That laptop you ain’t suppose to buy

I was torn between buying a laptop in Dubai Duty-free or in Philippines thinking about the cost implication.

The laptop will be for the family so the specs need not be “high” as i do not want my kids ending up using it for games.

A friend told me laptops in Dubai Duty-Free are really expensive. As expensive as in Philippines.

So i decided to buy the laptop in Lagos.

The Acer Aspire 7530G seems like a bargain at Park n Shop.

It has 4GB RAM, NVidia videocard at 512 MB, and 17″ TFT screen. That is my basic specs. I don’t that it’s an AMD and not an Intel processor. At least it’s still Core Duo. The bonus specs as shown in the list was that it ”has” bluetooth, and, built-in TV Tuner.

So i didn’t hesitate to buy it immediately. A day before my flight.

When we checked it in the house, i was horrified to find that the power plug is the for airconditioning in Nigeria (BS 546 (United Kingdom, 15 A/250 V grounded).  So i called our IT guy and asked him to buy another power cable that has a common plug that can be use in the Philippines. Luckily, he was able to buy one and replace it with the Type G plug.

And so, i was able to continue  the setup.

To my amusement, the box came with a TV remote control. We tried it but it required a TV Tuner hardware. That means Acer gave me a remote to “encourage” me to buy a separate TV Tuner. And yet, in its laptop label (right-side), it mentioned TV Tuner among other feature of the model. Sucks.

OK, so i can do without the TV Tuner. This is for the kids anyways.

When i arrived in “my village” in the Philippines, my daughter asked if she can transfer music from the laptop to her cellphone using bluetooth. Since there is a bluetooth button on the left-side of the laptop, i said go ahead. To her disappointment, the bluetooth button does not function. I went to check Control Panel and Device Manager — bluetooth does not function really. I rush to Mr. Google, only to confirm my annoyance that the friggin’ Acer laptop is only Bluetooth-ready but it has no bluetooth radio. Again, i need to buy a separate bluetooth USB device. What the ***k.

The only saving grace for this laptop is the 4GB RAM and separate video memory.

I really felt i’ve been had by this Acer laptop.

I mean, it should have been indicated in the product description that it requires purchase of separate bluetooth and TV Tuner.

Ha, i can surely say Acer is engaging in misleading product description. The way it was marketed, it seems like these two features are built-in.

If at all, i can say to all of you, NEVER buy an Acer laptop unless the features it claims to have is  reallyin the unit.

One more reason i will stick to HP.

 

Sent from my Blackberry

Since last year, i was wondering about the email i received from my boss. It contains the ubiquitous line “Sent from my Blackberry..”

I am so poor I can only afford a Nokia 3200 for a phone. Andso not wanting to feel envy to Blackberry users, I never actually bothered myself to read articles about the product.

When i transferred to another company, our GMs were using Blackberry devices. And i thought, well, tha thing is for executives only. My boss was gushing about how great Blackberry is, but since it is synonymous to “expensive”, he can’t really convince me to buy a Blackberry. The Blackberry Bold is US 550-600. He tried to offer me his newest Blackberry Storm- 6 months to pay, but still, no go for me, especially that the Storm has no wi-fi.

Until my officemate from Indonesia offered a deal, three of us will order Blackberry Curve 8900 from Jakarta at 480USD. I thought that one is OK.

And so, a week after, my BB Curve arrived.

I was worried about how to have it activated undr my MTN Sim card. The thought of endless documetary requirements made me delay the registration. So for a week, i was using the wi-fi of my BB to connect to internet. Until my colleague showed me how to activate the MTN Blackberry service by just sending a text message to MTN Blackberry Information Sserver (BIS). Wow, in just 30 minutes and 5,000 naira load, my BB service magically started. The word “EDGE” replaced the “GSM”. And i am guaranteed 24×7 connection. But wait, there’s more — i am using a PRE-PAID SIM card.!

I can’t believe activating BB service in Nigeria was that EASY!

Very unlike Philippine providers like Smart and Globe — too much of control freaks. You can’t get Blackberry if you do not sign-in as Post-paid customer, and the bandwidth usage is limited.

I check their respective websites to learn about their Blackberry services and i am convinced that when I go for vacation, I will not subscribe to BB service to these two providers.

And so, there i was,whole Sunday tinkering my BB. So what if there is no internet in the house or office. My BB ofers me push email, Yahoo messenger and Facebook.

I have 3 email accounts ‘pushed’ into my BB. An MTN BB email (default), a Gmail (free POP), a Yahoomail (i paid 20USD to activate POP Mailplus), and a YMail account (free POP).

I downloaded YM, GoogleTalk and FB. That is aside from BB’s own IM.

The advantage of havin BB in Nigeria is i can hold it and use it anywhere, anytime without fear of “holdap” or “snatching”…

Ah, talk about connectivity and mobility. 

My only problem with BB Curve is that it does not play Flash movies. And so i cannot check my Farm Town.

Tsk tsk tsk.

 

The Nigeria-Lebanon conundrum

I am not sure if the POEA is baiting the Nigeria- and Lebanon-based OFWs and would be OFWs with all these misleading press releases.

It seems like the issue of travel and work ban to both Nigeria and Lebanon are entertwined. They always go together, suspiciously mentioned together in every press releases made by either POEA, DOLE, DFA. And throw in the office of VP de Castro.

Last Monday, June 15, POEA’s Manalili issued a misleading statement about the Nigeria ban having been lifted. But as we read through the contents, it was just the opposite. The ban will not be lifted – at all… And all this talk about giving exception to Nigeria OFWs who have more than 10 years residency is nothing but — talk. It’s the POEA personnel themselves who will be the first to admit they have no idea about the so-called 10 year residency exception.

This statement was first uttered by VP de Castro in first week of April, and has since been rehashed to perfection by DOLE’s Roque and now, POEA’s Manalili.

Her reckless statement about the Nigeria ban having been lifted showed her lack of understandign and knowledge about the Nigeria OFWs’ issues and concerns. Maybe she was not given copy of the recommendation made by Gen. Roy Cimatu, after he visited Nigeria last March 2009.

But the important part of the June 15 press release is not about Nigeria. It was about Lebanon, and how Malacanang and VP de Castro has given their endorsement for the lifting of the ban. Hooray to Lebanon-bound OFWs.

Made me wonder why Ms. Manalili will choose to open her press release with an misleading  statement about the lifting of Nigeria ban, when what she really wanted to announce was about Lebanon.

Her brief mention of Nigeria triggered a flurry of emails among Nigeria OFWs. Some inquiries were made to DOLE and POEA. No answer.

Today, as i scanned the online news again, i almst dropped from my ergonomic chair when I read Ms. Manalili’s usual “unusual” statements.

She said that the OFW ban in Lebanon not yet over.

POEA Administrator Jennifer Manalili issued the statement on Wednesday following news reports that that a Lebanese panel is scheduled to come to the Philippines to finalize a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) that seeks to provide protection to Filipino workers…..

…“I’m clueless how these reports came about,” Manalili told GMANews.TV in a phone interview.

Wow. I am beginning to imagine that Ms Manalili is loking like Alicia Silverstone…. Get my drift?

She reacted to Lebanon issue when all is certain that the Lebanon ban will be lifted soon. But this time, she never bothered to make mention about Nigeria. Did not even clarify that misleading news title about Nigeria ban.

tsk. tsk. tsk.

We in Nigeria have come to accept the fact that neither POEA, DOLE, DFA or de Castro are in any position to decide the lifting of the travel and work ban.

Not that i am religious, but i join the rest of Nigeria-based OFWs in praying that Pres. Arroyo will finally order the lifting of the travel and work ban.

Na-wow.

 

Timeless, ageless, priceless Visayan Songs

i was browsing youtube for advance guitar tutorials when i stumbled into another search showing a South Korean High school choir singing “Rosas Pandan”.

It reminded of my own experience in a NAMCYA competition, Elementary level. Our contest piece was “Sitsiritsit Alibangbang”. Our school’s first to join the NAMCYA held in Ozamiz City. We didn’t qualify.

Sitsiritsit Alibangbang
Altho not a Visayan song, i just included it here, for memory’ sake.

From UP SCS:

And from the Loboc Children’s Choir (during rehearsal):

 And before i knew it (ahem!), i was searching for grand Visayan folk songs that are usually interpreted by choral groups.

Rosas Pandan

Dedicated to a pretty Visayan girl who loves to go to fiestas. A world-famous choral piece – because a lot of foreign choral groups have sung this song. Obviously influenced by Filipino members in the group.

Aside from the previously mentioned South Korean singers, here are some ‘nice’ foreign interpretation of Rosas Pandan:

This group has Filipinos in it. just for fun, you can hear the ‘tzi’-gi-dong clearly.

the San Francisco State Univerity Chamber Singers (with Pinoys also):

JP Stevens High School (US):

A Hawaiian HS Honor Choir:

Of course, the Philippines’ pride:

Loboc Children’s Choir:

The Philippine Madrigal Singers:

The University of the Visayas Chorale:

An here is the link to an amateur “x-rated” version of Rosas Pandan. Uh-oh, not for the faint-hearted..

Usahay

The Voice of Cebu

The University of the Visayas Chorale

Matud Nila

The University of the Visayas Chorale

Paradista

I used to hear this song from Cebu-based radio (DYHP). Then i saw this song performed by the Mountain View College – Bukidnon Traveling Chorale. They performed it in Cotabato City, inside the PIA office. It was a great song-and-dance choreo. Just too bad i couldn’t find it in YT performed by any Philippine  choral groups.

But i did find a gem of a video. A performance by the Kanto boys “all-strings” band. The best cover i can find in YT.

Well, that was one long video posts.

I’m not finished yet – oh.

Re-introducing some famous Visayan Solo artists:

Pilita Corrales

Susan Fuentes

Luz Loreto

Sheryn Regis

————-

Sa sunod, about Max Surban and Yoyoy Villame (RIP)