I've finally got one of these C.O.R.E. series backpack for my laptop & now I can use it with my new iPod...

However, the control button responsiveness is rather poor when I was wearing the bag on my shoulders.

I was so happy to have bought this unit, I've hesitated for a few weeks & been searching for a cheap unit.

Finally, I found lowyat.net forum a guy from the distributor selling by himself at RM980, definitely a better bargain than Machines or Epicenter.

Couple it with my Sony retractable headset I bought half a year ago, I'm in heaven.

My new laptop from HP has nothing more than crap from the beginning, there was a itchy sound from the top casing at the right below the arrow keys where the Fujitsu HDD is beneath & my right hand would rest when typing... yeah yeah, I know, it's a tablet, can someone really skips typing?... anyhow, I sent in the unit to HP Tower Service Centre to have a check to make sure there's no problem to continue using it or they should do something about it. Jason was the 1st guy that received my enquiry & straight away suggested me to send in the unit... no way, it's Friday & it's gonna be a long holiday for Hari Raya... I backed out & went away. But I made a U turn to HP Tower & Hannie helped me to check with an engineer before suggesting to send in the unit. Not to my surprise, she told me that there could be something melting inside to have the plastic casing warpage & having the sound when lightly pressing it. This comment from the engineer she checked with convinced me to send in the unit & how helpful & thoughtful that Hannie actually checked with her team before getting this unit for check/repair.

About 5 working days later, I received an SMS notifying me the repair work was done. I went to HP Tower again, that was about a week later on Monday. Salina with her sweet smile safely returned the unit to me & the report of the work order. To my surprise, the mother board was reported faulty with another part stated in the report that I've no idea what that's & they were changed... what? isn't the top casing or the HDD could be a better suspect than the mother board?... Well, I found that even my friend in Singapore got the same work done on his TX1222AU (better unit, man, it's Turion 1.9GHz), the mother board is always the prime suspect. I carefully inspected the unit & because the centre was about to close, I've certainly missed out quite a lot. Got home & I begin my basic supplier engineering & incoming inspection instinct... OMG, there's paint scratch off at the corner next to the DVD-RW drive & at one of the HDD cover screw holes... NVM, what the heck... standard boot up & NAV started to scan the system. 5min later, bang, the top casing got warm up & there I was typing again, ee... ett... ee... et... AGAIN? that's not it, the DVD-RW drive starts making weird spinning sound but I've put nothing inside it... WHOOP, E: is gone from My Computer & I double checked on Device Manager, there's no DVD-ROM device... WHAT!!!???

Without hesitation, I called HP customer support, I was requested to reinstall the driver after unplugging & plugging in the DVD-RW drive. OK, I did, no change, still disconnect itself after 5min logon to Windows (not sure if it's Vista problem). Well, before I go to HP Tower again, I checked from the internet the latest driver for it, no luck, I already have the latest. OK, my friend went with me to check for her iPaq speaker low bass problem while I sent in the unit again on Monday, since I found that the webcam has some problem to start too & found that there's a really big gap on the plastic liner on the LCD panel near to the Screen-Rotate button. Hehehe, my friend has no luck, the warranty of her iPaq has just expired about a month ago & she hesitated to send in the unit for this small problem to avoid any poor workmanship like my laptop.

Janet received my complaint about the problems after the 1st service & she called upon Jeffrey (ya, he's the guy that repaired my laptop) to understand my problems. I found that he didn't exactly know what was my problem & diagnosed as mother board faulty & he also mistaken me as Erica (OMG, do I look like a girl?) whose unit has bad sector on the HDD. He suggested me to send in the unit again to change the top casing, DVD-RW drive, LCD display & the HDD... OMG, is this a joke? Change so many things?... I nodded but I refused to agree on the changes that he suggested with the condition unless they're really faulty. OK, sent it in. Quietly... shhhh... Janet told me that my unsatisfactory on the repair has to be reported... that's very kind & informative, I'm thankful that she actually waited until I'm done with Jeffrey even though it's way passed 6 o'clock. OK, got home & I launched the complaints through HP's website about the problems I faced with all the details & I also pointed out my frustration on the poor workmanship & demanded an exchange.

Blah, blah, blah... 4 working days & I received a call from Jeffrey that the unit has been repaired by only changing the top casing & replacing with a new DVD-RW drive... no change on the LCD, thank God, I wouldn't know what'll happen to the unit, extensively reworked. He requested me to restore the whole system to see if the DVD-RW drive & the webcam will become good as he tried using his own HDD to logon windows & found no problem. Got there again on Friday, this time, I don't care if it'll be overtime for anyone of them & carefully inspected the unit after Salina (ya, she again lo) retrieved the unit for me. OK, the stickers are badly re-pasted as expected (but I rather he forgets about re-pasting them la), my instinct caught up immediately on the top casing that he changed, one of the latch at the display swivel joint is broken. I showed it to Salina & she immediately got Jeffrey to look at it on the spot. Wow, what was that? I didn't even go any further on the rest of the unit yet & into the system. Salina feedback that Jeffrey needs 3 working days to get a new casing... ya, old one all used up, right?... I'll need to come back again to send in the unit. OK, I'm at the most disappointed mood & I've nothing more left to say & I just sat there continuing my inspection & basic check on the system, it turns out the casing become better, no more movement can be felt & I would expect the itchy sound will be resolved even after the HDD warms up.

Got home & immediately to run a full system restore, yes, recover to factory configuration. Done & I re-inspected the whole system again. The problems that I have persist, the itchy sound on the top casing returned (but it's not that bad anymore, probably because it's not warping yet), DVD-RW drive still disconnects... but luckily, webcam starts in Quickplay, ya, only in Quickplay mode... nothing else can trigger it to start, same old problem like other TX1000 users. I'm through, I can't bear the appearance of the unit anymore. I re-forwarded the email to HP on my complaint again & also the findings from this 2nd repair. All this while, all my colleagues from work saw the unit & how bad it was, they all refuse to buy HP too... ya, wait until you got a Dell to compare with, no centre in KL at all, on-site service ended at 5pm every weekdays.

Erica (ya, HP staff from customer service quality department, not the other user of HDD bad sector) called me on last Monday & confirmed my findings. She also requested a copy of my proof of purchase to arrange for the 1-to-1 exchange... Yippie, she called me again on last Thursday & I'll be expecting a new unit to replace this bad one... poor me, I'm still waiting for their Fulfillment Centre to call me while now I'm just continuing to use the junky reworked set for these 2 weeks.

That's it, the whole experience tells me that, my best guess is the factory in Shanghai could have some little non-detectable fitting problem (not sure if it'll become reliability issue in long run) on my unit, maybe alignment on the HDD mounting frame getting too close to the CPU (it's AMD, prone to be hot), the service centre didn't do a great job to get it fixed but made the unit awfully repaired. BUT, it was Erica, the CQE that saved their asses, retain me as their customer & HP branding in return.

Isn't that something we can benchmark to our lives? We did terrible things, awful action, cursing words against others, like my laptop. Did we at any moment, start to think about what we did & how to get ourselves back to good with those people? I'm certain that I would like to save my own ass most of the time but I didn't manage to, all because of self-pride, ignorant to the wrong-doing, ego to change... In anyway, if this is how it ended, HP will close shop very soon, just because a few customer got their dppm units. This reminds me of a song from Nelson Hawks, "So Long Self". Friends, get it & listen to it & recall your daily activities before the sunset if you needa patch it. Ciao, I'm out & I need a prayer of courage.

I've also learnt one important thing, "Today is a good day, nothing could ruin my days".

Dear Y.S.
Thank you for your mail.

I have discussed with the MD of SESB and he informed me that they are looking into many forms of alternative source of energy. I have also spoken and discussed with a Mr Ho Yu Choi a businessman in Sandakan who is designing a windmill to produce electricity. Mr. Ho a young and promising businessman is also involved in processing and developing biodiesel besides his main activities of producing welding machines and boat building.

We are applying to the Federal Govt to supply solar energy to rural people especially those in the islands around sandakan.However, I was informed that such equipments need special attention and maintenance.We shall see if the projects would be approved under the 9 Malaysian Plan.

Thank you once again,

Beat regards,
Boon Hai

Dear Mr. Yeo,

Thanks for your speedy response.

Weird that you relate Liwagu proposal & Bakun project which both of them falls in different decade, if Liwagu was in the early 80's, it couldn't have been stopped because of Bakun which was only conceived in 1993; environmental & political reasons, maybe.
Irregards, I'd be very upset to know if Liwagu Hydropower will not be reinstated after the revived Bakun being fell short to fulfill to supply to the whole Borneo Island & the Peninsula. But on the other hand I'm also somewhat feeling relief that it was not then aggressively built in the 80's & impact the ecosystem, especially the birds.
I'm not sure if all these plans mentioned in your earlier mail have been laid out clearly anywhere & the people could always access & get the updates, I'm sure there'll be less anger towards SESB if the plan is being closely followed up & gradually implemented per schedule.

Is there a gant chart that SESB is laying out to update the status to all the concern people? I know that the EWG was supposed to complete last year & there should a plan to link Serudung & Ulu Padas with another gridline by 2012.
Are Upper Padas & Liwagu Hydropower plans will be revived? Besides, is there other recyclable alternative sources like wind, sea wave, photocell to phase-to-phase replace those petrochemicals generation systems & not introducing anymore similar organic resources or biolysis power generation system, like coal that is majorly used in Las Vegas. Is the expertise in UMS studying this as well?

I totally undestand that you're referring to many constrains, for East Malaysia, in fact it's particularly Sabah, has been discriminated or isolated in general throughout the nation & the people in the Peninsula, we felt it very strongly when we're living here in the Peninsula. Whenever the words "Malaysia", "Nation", "Nationwide", "the Country", "the Government", "the People" etc. is mentioned, it's only being referred to represent the Peninsula, like those AMP's Radio Stations' slogans & RDS, major competitions & events, Celcom 3G service, & even sometimes only being referred to represent Kuala Lumpur or the Federals in Klang Valley. Even the National Day is celebrated not on the same day Malaysia was formed but on the Independant Day of Malaya.

What do the people need to do besides writing emails to you, distributing to others, wait by sitting in the dark sweating but continue to pay the bills that the plan of SESB will be fulfilled (hopefully, without the prayer of miracles)?

If this is of the political reasons, I don't think we can't demand the attention while the people in the West could claim all the money they want when they experience any kind of power outage even if the scale is way less than Sandakan.

If it's not that case, I believe the namingly "City of the Nature" (not only this funny nickname being sarcasm itself, it has swept away the well-known branding of the little HongKong) could get some attention from even wider group not only in Malaysia, perhaps internationally.

With only below mentioned, I'd not find any attraction of oppoturnity in the near future & it's certainly not yet a good reason that Sandakan people living in Peninsula, Sarawak & else where in the world will consider home-coming is any closer to enjoyable in the candle light, even if it's only temporary.

I'm respecting you that you're taking this seriously despite many unhappy sarcastic words in the communication & following up closely with SESB, I'd be proud to be part of it & I believe others will also love to join the force to necessarily get the things done sooner. Looking forwards for the "bright" future of Sandakan.

Regards,

Y. S.

---

From: Yeo Boon Hai

To: Sun

Cc: felixkah ; merkk@tm.net.my ; mgpost@tm.net.my ; me@mysabah.com ; sph@tm.net.my ; emediabh@bharian.com.my ; araz@bharian.com.my ; chenghai@thesundaily.com ; editor@dailyexpress.com.my ; info@nanyang.com ; Actionline_nst@hotmail.com ; general@nstp.com.my ; editor@thestar.com.my ; opinion@sinchew.com.my

Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 09:11

Subject: [SPAM] Re: SESB - Sandakan Everyday Sure Blackout

Dear Y.S

Thank you for your mail.

Initially,SESB was to develop Liwagu Dam in Ranau in the early 80's. It was stopped because of Bakun Dam which is supposed to supply power to West Malaysia,Sabah and up to the Philippines.I was in the meeting which was attented by the then Chief Minister, YB Datuk Joseph Pairin Kittingan.

However, this project was reduced to produce only for sarawak because of finances and politics. As a result,we are all strainted.

The reality is when the state went into opposition in 1985,I believed we suffered many forms of sanctions which saw many planned projects being shelved by the federal projects.For example the road from Beaufort to Sipitang was to be sealed but was shelved.I am from Sipitang. How come after,1994 when BN took over, the road was sealed and the university UMS were built.!!

This is the intricacy of state and federal politics. United States also applied sanctions to many countries and invaded many countries too. That is international politics.

I guess electricity suffer the same fate. I dont intent to argue about politics but just to remind that we are affected by it.

Having said that,by the time this government comes in,we have lost about 10 years of the development of electricity. The electricity problems became compounded because of demands and growth.The financial requirement must have triplicate or quadricate by now. Planning is one thing and implememtation is another.I have briefly cover the short term and the long term plans by SESB.

I inform Felix that by end of Sept we would see some improvements.

The long term plan is the constructiom of a 300 mega watts power plant in Lahad datu and the upgrading of the East-West Coast Grid to 170 megawattts.SESB is planning to construct another hydro power plant above the present Tenom Mini hyroplant.I agree with you that the Govt should look into more environment friendly source of power.

When the going is tough we should all be united and i am hoping that everyone will help the country especially Sabah that we all love. There is no place as sweet as home.I thank Felix,you and many of us who voice up so that the govt will take more concrete steps. I will do my best. Thank you.

God bless,

BoonHai

---

p.s. I'm also copying some news agencies & some of those living off the country where their electricity always ensure they get this email immediately.

Dear Mr. Yeo,
Thank you for your long and detailed reply. These are the questions still puzzling me after reading it.

a) This power outage and disruption problem have been ongoing for only god knows how many years already, why is our Chief Minister YAB Datuk Musa Hj Aman only takes these people to their tasks recently? Shouldn't this be the priority for Sandakan since this has been happening since Berjaya time as you said, which is like 20+ years ago?

b) There were a lot of promises made by SESB to our CM, is there a dateline set for them fo complete all these? is there anyone auditing what they are doing? as they are not trustworthy anymore.

c) Why are they only taking all these measures now and not years ago?

d) Who should be responsible for all the power outages we suffered for all these years? Someone in particular. Why didn't we see anyone from SESB apologising to the resident of Sandakan for what he/she did that caused us all the pain?

e) Why is there no compensation offered to the resident of Sandakan? So we just have to keep quiet and swallow it? Who should pay for the spoiled food in our fridge? Who should pay for the dead fish in the aquarium? Who should pay for all the broken TV, Air Con, Hi-Fi because of this? Who should pay for the overtime the bosses have to pay to their workers? Who should pay for the "TIME" we lost?

BN government has been in Sabah for over 10 years now and all the people are wondering what have are all the YBs done all these years? If this continue, we will just see more and more young people from Sandakan leaving this place for good and in a a very short future, we will find very few poeple between the age of 20-40 in town. These people they are either studying elsewhere and will never come back or they are living in a city where they don't have to worry about power and water, everyday.

I am sure all the people of Sandakan wants the best for our city as we live here but if this problem keeps bugging us or interupting and disturbing our daily life, it is just not worth to stay here anymore.

Thank you.

Regards,

Felix Kah

Yay! My 1st item from wish list realized, JVC GZ-MG50AG is finally purchased from Desmond of Singapore whose unit was won from a lucky draw on his company's AD&D.
I met him at Woodlands Civic Central Plaza opposite Causeway Point yesterday.
The purchase was finalized at S$1100, with the standard pack of the unit plus a SteinZeiser 4-section H1.3m tripod & an NCP 1GB SD Card.
Wow! The Court's roadshow at Causeway Point is selling it at S$1699 without the tripod & the card but comes with a JVC carrying case & the standard BN-VF707 battery swapped to BN-VF714 which offers longer recording time.
I don't care much of the carrying case because I've an Nseries camera carrying case from my N70 that can fit to the use.
err... but the crappy 1-hour recording using BN-VF707 will be a disaster for my trip to Australia.

	GZ-MG50AG
Format	SD-VIDEO Entertainment Video Profile: Video: MPEG-2-PS / Audio: Dolby Digital Still: JPEG (PictBridge, DPOF compatible)
Storage Media	Hitachi Travelstar 1.8" Hard Disk Drive (Embedded), SD Memory Card
Hard Disk Capacity	30GB
Image Sensor	1/4.5-inch, 1.33 Megapixel CCD (PAL/NTSC)
Lens	F1.2 - 2.8 (f=3.0 - 45mm) 35mm equiv.: Normal Video: 43.3 - 649.5 16:9 Video: 39.3 - 589.5 Still: 36.1 - 541.5
Shutter Speed	1/2 - 1/4000 (Video) , 1/2 - 1/500 still
Zoom Ratios	15x Optical / 700x Digital (max.)
Filter Diameter	30.5mm
Monitor	112,000-pixel 2.5-inch polycrystalline silicon colour LCD
Interfaces	SD Memory Card slot, USB2.0/1.1, AV Out, S-Video Connector Out, DC In
Power Source	Battery: 7.2V / AC adapter: 11V
Dimensions (WxHxL)	Approx. 67mm x 70mm x 109mm or <512cm³
Weight (w/o battery & lens cap)	Approx. 320g
Weight (incl. battery & lens cap)	Approx. 380g