Prolink Wireless Keyboard / Mouse

I am not a geek! I am not a techie! What else? I may not be able to write technical blog, but mind you, I have the vision and dream on wish list for the setup in my little 'dreamland' room, which is all meant for my work, entertainment and reading. Yet a lot to do, including its furniture and decoration!

Well, coming back to the product which I recently shopped at PC Fair 2011, this weekend. In fact, I didn't get what I supposed to get, but was walking around observing all kinds of keyboard and mouse. The variety yet to be enough, it was not as great. Nevertheless, I incidentally got myself this keyboard - Wireless Keyboard which comes with touch pad.

I find it rather sexy sleek! Comes with a holder which could charge its Lithium battery via USB.

Check out the specification here - http://www.prolink2u.com/new/products/index.php?cid=259
, and it can be purchased online within Malaysia too, at http://www.proshop.my.

Planning to use this as my portable keyboard + mouse (in one), when I am lying over on my couch about 3meters away from my PC & LCD monitor. However...... I just noticed I might need another mouse to maneuver, during my photo editing session :( It is yet to be perfect.

Prolink may not be a famous brand in the industry, but it has exist for many years. It is a Singapore company brand. Had been serving me for close to 7 years, it all started with a USB WiFi receiver for my PC and laptop, at that time which does not have a Wireless card.

I then continued having a 2.4GHz wireless keyboard cum mouse, which I had been using for the past 3-4 years. They are both still in good condition. I like the ergonomically designed wireless mouse the most.

As we mentioned on ergonomics, I find the mouse design and industry can be challenging and difficult in designing something which fit-for-all individual. I certainly do not think an ergonomically proven mouse could fit-for-all. Urban human today are facing gaming PCs, laptops and later soon more frequently in front of an IPtv, static sitting posture has been badly influencing our body posture, mind and soul. Thus, knowing our own body and needs is clearly much more important than any others. We need to determine ourselves what suites us, what could help us to eliminate pain from strain. Keyboard and mouse position are equally important.

Talking about technology, I may not be the expert. Certainly, I myself could not get away from laptop, internet, wireless, handphone, etc... devices in my everyday life. They might have brought much convenience to us, but we should limit ourselves relying to it much to and extend, where we neglect our health and body. Do yourself a part in loving your own body, mind and soul. Live healthy!

DiGi Yellow Man follows me home ~!

He follows me home, saved my life :P, provides me convenient 3G broadband at home.... while I am still waiting for my TM StreamyX broadband for home, while my neighbour's Maxis broadband is not consistently performing (it drops every interval hour, possibly resetting its IP by itself).

Here's what I got from DiGi store at SS2 Petaling Jaya, the place where I got my current prepaid phone number 10+ years ago, where I had my sim-card changed and upgraded, etc... I am a loyal DiGi customer after all these years. Proud of their service, though there are times where certain things just does not work well... but they are there to service you.

Many have been asking me about the performance since yesterday. Well, I have merely used it for 24hours, dare not comment much. So far, since my area has DiGi's coverage well enough, the performance is fine... at least the connection does not drop persistently. I have yet trying it in a mobile mode, might do so next weekend.

I have been noticing its connections being moved around within WCDMA, HSPDA and EDGE. Not really sure the differences, but would believe its some highend of service so far, experts are welcome to correct me. :P

Digi Follows Me & my Joybook

One thing I would like to emphasize, I am not a gadget queen nor a geek!... but I do admit that I am addicted to web surfing (sometimes), especially when I am statying out from home, stays waiting with a boring face. ;)

At times, some could see me sitting quietly web surfing or IM'ing with my beloved J-book (named after its Joybook!). With a J-book, I am preparing myself for a soon upcoming boring and restless trips. I need my beloved accompany to cheer me up. How could I get myself online at places without WiFi and internet access?

We heard a lot of 3G, 3.5G, WiMax, etc.... of internet connection in the market lately. Mind me, I don't think I am up-to-date enough with all the technologies out there. Seeing a friend of mine whom usually gets connected with his BB BlackBerry, I was kind of wondering if I could do so with my current Sony Ericsson z610 pinky phone and its Digi Prepaid subsription. Understand Digi has currently only up to EDGE connection, slighly below expectation compare to 3G.

Anyway, guess I will not explain much on the difference of such connection type, those who interested could get the explanation from google.com. I would just show what I discovered and experienced with my current phone.

• Software : Sony Ericsson PC Suite 4.0 (downloadable from SE website)
• Phone : Sony Ericsson z610 pinky flip phone
• Service Provider : Digi Prepaid Plus
• Phone Connection : Via USB

First Test (click pic to enlarge)
-------------
The Result : I got a very good reception from my home, with the speed of 460kbps. Is it fast? Sorry, I have no idea. At that stage, I didn't browse any website, didn't logon to Yahoo Messenger. I then quickly logon to Digi's online OCS to find out how much it had cost me to get that connection. To my surprised, I was not charged at all !!!

I then browse through their website (2nd pic above), read its condition and found out that.... "you only need to pay when do make a data transfer". No wonder. But then, I found out the website has a minor error - misstated "GPRS" as "GPSR".

Weirdly, I saw the there was UMTS (3G) connection stated in the software. So, does it means the Digi has its connection improved from EDGE to 3G at certain network coverage area? Not sure.... let's give my geek friend homework to further research.

Second Test (click pic to enlarge)
---------------

The Result : I managed to gain only Good Reception, compared to the first test. Same thing, I have got a UMTS (3G) connection too. Unfortunately, the speed had dropped to 115kpbs.

I did some browsing to my blogsite - http://purplesdiary.blogspot.com, with lots of photo loading... the browsing time was not too bad. Acceptable. Thus, I am quite satisfied with its performance.

Finally, I came by to the Digi's OCS site again, checked my itemized billing.... GUESS WHAT I GOT???? Total bill of RM2.60 for barely 4+ minutes of webbrowsing. Oh no, I felt the pain. Somewhat expansive from what I expect. Looks like I can only use this connection when I am desperately wanting to get online. I learned a lesson here... hehe

Conclusion..... I wonder if I would need to convert to Digi's Postpaid + data package. According to my friend, it only cost additional RM66 for data package. Seems it can be something to-be considered. When??? Will see.

One thing I have yet to resolve, was the the Bluetooth connection to my phone set via SE PC Suite software. Wonder if I should use other freeware/software out there instead.

I have been a loyal Digi Prepaid customer for the past 11 years. Averagely I will only hit RM100/3 months. I was so used to reloading my prepaid phone every 3 months. Even that, I will always have balance of RM100++. Somehow, I noticed Digi has slightly changed the Prepaid plan, and my expiry was extended till 12 months instead of every 3 months. But they encourage RM200 and above reload within the period of 3 months, giving addition % of talktime. I had just reloaded my Prepaid for that reason, so.. let's see for another first 3 months of 2009 if that will push me to switch to Postpaid plan.

Till then.

New - Starbucks @ Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

SAT DEC 20 This is my real new toy... since some of you have not seen the original one (as the previous blog was a photo from BenQ.com). I intentionally walked myself to Starbucks Coffee shop @ Tanah Rata, not too far from our lodge during my stay last weekend.


I don't remember seeing Starbucks during my last Oct '07 trip. So, I would believe this is newly opened, just lasted for about a year.

The interior setup was great. However, most people would prefer to sit at the terrace/corridor, as the weather is much cooler. On the other hand, I feel the indoor area was a bit stuffy, probably due to cost cutting, they switched off the aircon.


My only intention to hangout at this place - alone, was to enjoy peacefulness at the same time, and most importantly get online. Looks like this is the only spot I know, which we could get free internet access. In fact, an uncle from the next door mamak stall told me "you could get free internet access as long as you sit at our table right near to Starbucks". But then, I didn't shift my sit, as we had already got a sit at the other end of the corner, which then the connection was weak. Anyway, later after our afternoon lunch/tea, I got myself an espresso and enjoy my internet surfing for 1+ hour, before I walked myself back to the lodge.

It was a great and quiet afternoon on my own.. ;)

Exact location of Starbucks (in case you would need it - click to enlarge)

GPS Coordinate : N4 28.236 E101 22.675

New - BenQ's Joybook Lite U101

JOY... JOY... JOY... or HO... HO... HO... Jingle jingle all the way.
~ What's Joybook? ~

Well, it's one of the Netbook which is currently in our market and I believe it has not been that common compare to other Netbook, i.e. Asus Eee PC, HP Mini, Dell Mini, FTec and so forth.

Pic taken fr BenQ official website.

Announcing to you, I have got myself one of this yesterday! from the ever popular PC Fair in town. It was a coincident, where this model is not even in my comparison list, but in the end I dare to spend my money on it. I had recently been googl'ing on tech reviews for netbook, my shortlisted model were Asus Eee PC 1000H and MSI Wind U100. The new HP Mini 1001TU did attracted my attention due to its elegent look, but it didn't attract me in terms of its spec.

Tho, I might not be that techie as other geeks in writing tech review on PCs or anyother gadget. I would just probably share my lil personal opinion on this new toy of mine. I will upload the actual real photos on mine once I managed to get a good shot out of them. [as currently I am travelling outstation and yet to get used to the machine].

Hereby, I would just temporary steal the picture from other websites.

Official websites with specs : http://benq.com/products/joybook/?product=1419

So, just to share what I like about it....

1. 1) light weight
2. 2) about the same or rather same size and setup as MSI Wind U100 [I had the luxury to compare an actual model side by side during my PC fair shopping]
3. 3) Nice LCD TFT screen

and, what I don't like....

1. 1) limited colour.... there was only Sapphire Blue available... my favourite pink or purple will not release until 2009 Feb
2. 2) yet to get use to the keyboard, where some keys may be too small or hiding somewhere. Example, the first numeric button on the left is normally as ~ stroke, but this starts with "1" instead. So most of the time I will end up punching "5" instead of "4".

Anyway, that was just a quick summarized review after getting it on hand in less than 12hours. I hope to get used to it and made it heavy duty these few days, at least while it is still under 1 to 1 warranty period!!!

OH yah.. before I forgot, it was kinda good deal getting this from PC Fair. The sales dealers were mostly under-pressured. At least from BenQ, they advertised this model with many freebies! Besides a standard gift package consists of a mug, an earphone, a baby mouse and a 'Joyful' lanyard [pics below]. I was offered free 2GB RAM upgrade (the standard was supposed 1GB RAM upgrade only). And, the final piece of freebie was an 120GB external HDD.... with the price of RM1,799.


Special thanks to my personal technical advisor cum consultant. Hope this will end up as a good deal with no worries left behind.

Some technical review available at:

• http://www.jacko.my/2008/12/benq-joybook-lite-part-1.html
• http://www.jacko.my/2008/12/benq-joybook-lite-part-2.html