lol 
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
.
I set about dismantling the thing with the hopes of removing the crap!! Ripping open the thing didn't take that much effort once you knew what to expect, it's much easier than disassembling Apple's Airport Extreme, or common TV remote that are just clipped together. From previous experience modern technology gizmo's tend to use tons of tiny little clips to secure the thing prior to securing (screws).... guess they're thinking the screws will eventually fall out? I dunno..
Yes, I know...
More dust will inevitable enter but ain't you curious? I am
Wait... What's that? Is that a hairline crack, right of the connector?? :sad:
Well, I ain't sure and I didn't investigate further. The mobile seems to work flawlessly, why break it? Naturally I'm wondering how home-brewers are whom attempt to change/mod their housing will go, once they reach this point. That touch-screen module appears to be extremely thin! Since it's glass and strongly affixed to the front housing it's gonna be really fragile!! I wonder who's gonna be the first to smash it??
Hmm..
No proximity sensor? or did i miss it?
Needs more reinvestigation...
Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens mounted on Gizso carbon tripod with manual override and 
free ambient light. Edited with Photoshop on MacPro, saved and optimised for web.]]>
I ain't a noob when it comes to online ordering, there are numerous other companies I've dealt with in the past (such as Apple, Dell, Korg, MicroDirect, Overclockers, SGI) and non of them have taken me for a ride, in fact, they've always dealt my orders promptly, getting them dispatched and delivered to my door without too much fuss.
Digital Village (aka DV247) on the other hand can't seem to stop screwing up!! Guess it doesn't help when they're using a crappy courier too! Here's my story of the troubles I've encountered - and it's my first order with them!!
]]> I dare say I'm not very impressed with the customer service I've received from Digital Village. You'd think as a new customer they'll do everything correctly, right? I know most other companies will be prompt when it comes to ordering goods online especially in this day and age.Well...
On Wednesday of last week I ordered some goodies, spending hundreds of pounds on new toys/equipment. Now according to their site, goods ordered before 12pm will be dispatched for the next working day, unfortunately I placed my order in the mid-afternoon, so i'm expecting a Friday delivery.
However, when Friday morning came and no courier appeared, no-one came pounding on my door. Instead our postman delivering the regular post, I tear open one of the letters, thinking it's something else, only to discover it's a Preforma Invoice attached to it a letter asking me to call DV247, conforming my identity by repeating a password to them... o_O
On calling them, I get a whole load of bullshit regarding security checks. Honestly.. Why the fuck, am I getting the fu*kin run around?? I just haven't a clue!! After making further enquires, they simply said, the letter is a form of "security checks" the worthless clerk goes on to say, they are just being cautious because they've have hundred of fraudulent customers placing bogus orders and when the goods have been dispatched, they've later discover the addresses have been abandoned long ago!!
Yet, here I am placing a legit order with them, having sending goods to the address the cards registered to and they're still pissing about with me. And to express how much they're pissing about, i check my bank account. There I the find the funds have already been withdrawn!! Yet non of the goods I've ordered have arrived on time!!
After speaking to one of their managers they gave verbal apologies for the security checks, then apologies for inconvenience coursed. In turn I required they do me a favour and escalate my order from a late Monday delivery to a Saturday delivery, cause by default they don't have Saturday deliveries. After some deliberating they complied and agreed to do so. I even get an email confirming my order will be delivered on the Saturday - after all, if you think about it, they owe me, as my oerder is now delayed by four-eight hours - not impressed!!
Now according to DV247's website my order has been dispatched and the delivery (according to UPS) has been rescheduled for a Saturday delivery. However, Saturday has been and gone and still nothing has arrived. Checking UPS's tracking page, my goods are still in transit!!
Now! I don't understand how a packaged sent as Express Delivery for Saturday from Tamworth can take in excess of twenty hours to deliver? Infact, it's gonna be more then seventy-two hours late!! I mean, it's there in black and white!! Yet I don't get a delivery at all!! Calling UPS on a Saturday is a complete waste of time, their office ain't open!! So now, not only is the order gonna be delayed once again, but it's gonna be delayed for a further forty-eight hours.
Right now, I'm complete pissed off with this company and it's terrible customer service. Infact, I am considering cancelling the entire order with them, regardless of it arriving on Monday or not. Dealing with such a company is just a complete waste of time! I should of gone with Dolphin Music up in Liverpool... I'm pretty sure my order would of been dealt with promptly and efficiently and without all the BULLSHIT i've experienced so far from DV247 (why they called 247? they're certainly not open 24-7!!)
Related images:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultraneo/3533642290/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultraneo/3536882917/
Well folks, with my recently addition to the family, the last generation of aluminium MacBook Pro's. I've decided to swap out that annoying SuperDrive for something a little more flexible.
]]> Now there's nothing wrong with it technically, it functions just fine but it's one picky bit of hardware!! I find myself using one brand of disks for the MacPro, another brand for the MacBookPro 15 and yet another brand for the MacBookPro 17!I've searched high and low for this slot loading Blu-Ray mechanism from Panasonic.. For a model that's been around for a while it's still the fastest one out there!! And the price i found this baby for was truly outstanding!! I think a retail unit would come in around $900.. so I would say I save myself a packet! Considering I only paid a little over $100 USD for the OEM version.
Installing this baby was as straight forward as installing a new hard-drive... Took me no more then 20 mins to complete the entire process.
Prior to installation I tested the unit's playback and recording ability via with my PC. And the device works beautifully!!
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Recently I'm experiencing internet connection issues, it's annoying me no end!! For fibre optics, it's going slow. Really slow, at times it's slower than dial-up! lol
Have to wait till Monday before they can get an engineer around to solve the issues...
OMG, what I'm gonna do while being unplugged?
Jesus, I'm already missing my mixi!
Strolling the high streets you're able to pick up various bargins from what appears to be famous designer brands, offering the latest fashion and styles for minimal of cost. Great if that's what you want but they're various catches... For the wise person, you could find great bargins, for the casual shopper, it's a gold mine for the shopkeepers.
]]> Often what appears to be the latest in catwalk fashion will later become apparent, once your given the chance to get a close examination of course. Unless buying of an authorised outlet, what you buy is often cheap chinese clones... Sorry, but they are! They don't sport a durable quality finish, usually don't last, have fast colour and shrink ten sizes after the first wash!! They're nothing but cheap immatations, a major ripp-off in most case and from experience, store don't usually honour refunds. So be very careful..Unfortunately I'm all shopped out! Nothing i really interesting for me here. I don't even want to buy the latest offering from Apple, even at tax free prices, it's not tempting (might have something todo with the crap exchange rate ($10.28 for 1 quid) Sorry. Nor do I wanna go shopping for quality L glass, kinda worried it's nasty clones... Though I do fancy buying a EOS 1Ds, maybe I'll wait till I'm back in Japan (earn lots of Yodobashi points yo~)
...how's life here then?
Life in Hong Kong is kinda simple, yet complicated all at the same time... Generally, it's been a week of lounging around, sleeping in late, wondering around with the folks and getting board of watching crappy local TV that's mainly broadcasted in inunderstandable Mandarin (><), watching badly dubbed Korean sitcomes... (remember the ole B&W outta sinc movies?) Yeah it's that bad.. and all the male voices sound the same!! LOL WTF!! (><)
I dunno what the rest of the people do here when not shopping for cheap knock offs, but I've been fairly bored since arriving. Not much to do besides sleep but you know, one can only sleep so much right? Have you ever tried sleeping for a whole day and not waking up tired after? I can't do it...
I guess, it could be interesting...
However, for me, Hong Kong has always beening a place for shopping but now it's just a place to visit on long weekends... Only this weekend gonna be lasting about a month! Kinda wish I got a weekly ticket! Jesus... Is there something wrong with me??
Umm... only three words comes in my head...
I MISS JAPAN!!!
Plus, I've recently come to realise, I don't really understand the local people here, other than they love to chat and spread gossip with their friends, it's rather annoying as I like my privacy. I don't my mind's thinking to be running wild on the street. Know what I mean?
I've tried looking up friends from the past but due to changes in Hong Kong's ecomony many of them have relocated to better places, perhaps to earn better incomes? Out of the thrity or so people I know, I can only contact three!! That's after an absense of four years..
Fuck! Can't believe it.
Where is everyone???
So what's happening of late??
Well, recently I took a vacation back to Hong Kong to do my father a favour.. also an opportunity to see my dear folks, it's been almost a year since I've seen them you know? and I miss them dearly. Mum's health ain't what it used to be, she's getting on abit, it's sad.. but I like to spend as much time with them as possible. Meanwhile father's being a right pain in the arse but they're we're nice people, you know? But it's very complicated....
]]> For about four years my father's health have deteriated(?) and over the time, he's only gotten worst!! Doctors have since putten him on meds, they're suppose to help maintain his bodily balance, helps to keep him in check. Umm.. think the last time I counted, there's over ten little colourful pills ranging in all shape and sizes for each dosage, lookin' at his does, it looks like a bowl of smarties...Earlier in the year, our family doctor gave my father enough medical supplies to last him about three months (max subscription) though his intentions is to stay about half a year we all knew he's gonna run short.
For anyone reading this, cost of treatment and meds in Hong Kong aint cheap. Firstly there's no regulation and often pharmacies will charge on a 'per tablet basis'.. and worst still, if your not sure what your taking it, it's really easy for them to give you cheap chinese clones which serves no medical value and often are more dangerous than helpful!! Kowai ne~
And with Hong Kong's strict boarder control, meds can't be sent in by mail or carrier - I've aready tried. The postal system here seem to confiscated everything without exception, even confectionary!! What the help they're thinking I don't know (it's China after all) So the only way is to import them in manually with a covering letter stating it's offical medical suppiles...
Every once in a while I'll do them a favour, in the process I get a break from work. Does that make sense? But man! I never realy knew how many different types of med he's on, till now!! Out of the 27kg's i'm allocated, over 10kg (inc packaging) of it, is his meds.
Knowing how he treats me, and to be completely honest I don't know why I really bother; he's not a good person, treats everyone like dirt, doesn't have any respect for anyone, not even his wife. And as far as he's concerned I'm not his son... I'm just someone who comes and goes in his life. Kinda sad really... Most of all, I feel sorry for mum.
Anyway, I'm in Hong Kong. it's the rainy season I think, since arriving it's done nothing but rained, ruining my vacation with dull gloomy washes of filth, local rivers are a wash!! I'm actually feeling rather depressed...
]]>
So here are some of the images I took regarding the cleanup of apple's horrible mess. Honestly... Not completely sure why they do such a sloppy job at putting the grease on. Anyway.. I hope folks will find them helpful.
]]> First I cleaned the chips using various solvents, most of them available from the local corner store. I know some of you prefer to use more expensive cleaners but I find standard Liquid Petroleum aka Zippo Fuel does a great job! Just make sure you're ain't smoking, cause this stuff is really flammable!I apply a few drops to a photographic grade cotton swobs, about 10 are required. I choose them cause they have a lovely pointy end good for gettin' in all the nooks and crannies, plus they have less dust! (annoys me) They're ideal cause the crappy paste Apple seems to use gets everywhere, it's nothing but an atrocious mess!
*waves fist at Apple*
If your worried about the possibilities of grease on the surface, use some iKear on the die with another fresh cotton swob.
This is the nVidia GPU, it doesn't like to be cooked alive. Hence, early death!
Part of Intel's Santa Rosa Chipset, the key to given this machine the ability of supporting upto 6Gb RAM, even though Apple only supports 4Gb officially.
Intel's Penryn processor, the brain to the whole thing!
Below, the part of the Logic board most of you manage to spill liquids on and more often than not, you'll come to this forum for help and advice. I just thought I'd post this so you'll be more advised as to why the system seem to fry from a little water! This thing, known as the logic board lays bare right under the keyboard, there's really very little protect between the back of the top-case and it...
▲▲ This is the battery connector ▲▲
Remember, even when your system is off, there's live current on the logicboard!!
▲ I've applied liquid thermal paste to the dies, making sure there not so much it's dropping everywhere. There doesn't need to be much, just enough to create a solid bond between the processor die and the thermal pad on the heat-pipe.
▲Side by side view.
Now the machine is ready for reassembly... Yay!!
]]>
Anyway, this system actually arrived yesterday afternoon but I've been so busy with my job i didn't have time to play. Till this morning.. hehe... Oh, it's soooo damn nice to have new toys.
When I ordered this system, Apple's website stated it's a 2.5Ghz but
the other label and system both says something different. Over all, it
just adds to making this purchase a bigger "BARGAIN" !!
I've already called about regarding this, they're gonna let me keep it
without paying extra, cause Apple made the mistake!! Hear that kids?
For those who ain't familiar with me, I like to tweak and customise my
systems, so they're at the best as they can and suitable for me.
Naturally I'm curious about some things, so it's fairly normal to rip
something to shreds with little regards to the manufacturers
warranty... Being technically minded, it's extremely rare to send a
machine back, especially since this is a refurb..
After a quick test of it's hardware and complete check of the system I
procedded to upgrade the system from it's default 200Gb 7200rpm drive
to a more useable 320Gb 5400rpm. I know it's not the fastest drive out
there but it's just the system drive guys.
Later proceeded to check the thermal paste situation (and it's less than 24hours old).
Under the bonnet I go, and OMG!!!
Apple still ain't learnt anything! Just look at it, it's bleedin' degraceful! Why can't they get it right??
Now, I can't imagine how yours are looking, especially those of you with the newer Unibody systems...
Dear Apple,
Why must you put some much bleedin thermal paste on these poor defenceless chips? Surely using so much paste will only cause them to harbour more heat, then displace it? Well.. this system has been cleaned up, no thanks to you...
Well.. I've replaced all that gunk with some Super Thermal Grease, it's super thin!! It fills in the dents, gaps and what have you, creating a perfect contact between the chip and your heat sink. I've chosen this product cause it's better under intensive heat, plus it doesn't need to be replaced every six to twelve months.
Meet the family...
Oh... Think I shouldn't buy any more systems for now.. What you think?
Related threads:
macrumors more but older threads: macrumors and apple discussions
So recently the BBC introduced something called iPlayer(not an orginal name), for those of us who have a life and can't keep in-tune with the latest offerings that's appearing on our screens. Though it's also loved by those of us who are simply too lazy to move the living room!!
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Prior to Christmas the wonderful and often pretty crap BBC uploaded loads of TopGear episodes for those motor heads to watch and catch up with the latest developments in the motoring world. Now me personally I'm not one but I love watching programs about cars and technology plus it's kinda fun listening to Jeremy moan and rant about things and on occasions break stuff.
However, since the New Year my favourite tv show has fuckin vanished!! They've litually left us with some reruns and 'Best of..' from 1969, that i've seen too many times. There's nothing new being uploaded!! Like what the fuck? Why are those that are there have been there since before Xmas, still there? I know there's a new serires but where the fuck has it gone? I'm kinda getting withdraw symptoms... help!! Please bring back whiny Clarkson, Captain Slow and Little Richie.
Hey!!
I got a question...
This is the internet right?
Why does the Beeb continues to censor what we see? Why? Don't the BBC know there's tons of things much worst online? Like hardcore uncensored porn with inhuman acts most can't even dream up nevermind comprehend... Yet they sensored James May for smoking in the studio.. That sucks!! But it's an improvement seeing his pixelated face splashed with a puff of smoke. lol
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