Curiosity, Thoughts and Whatever...

I'm not a regular blogger just occasionally wanna share some thoughts and ideas to the rest of the world. Hope you like what you see and written.....:))

2.5" Harddisk Media Player

0 comments Published Tuesday, September 30, 2008 by SaiRay.

Sarotech DVP-260s

This little gadget cost me RM 530 in lowyat. Actually its RM 365 (Player) + RM 155 (160GB WD HDD) and etc as cc charges. The image on Sarotech website was impressive. It looks solid, tech savvy and cool. However, the actual real product is far from the truth. The image of the product on the website itself had been touch up. So you can't see the flimsy, transparent plastic cover wrapping around the whole unit. There is only a thin aluminium piece wrapping around on the side of the unit to disperse the heat. Ventilation isn't very good. There are some holes at the back cover but not enough to disperse the temperature. Therefore while the unit is running the heat from the hdd and the enclosure is very very bad. I couldn't hold or touch it for long while its running. I think it could do with more heatsink or aluminium fin or an internal liquid cooling or something. Beside that there is an electrical charge on the body of the metal/aluminium case itself which gave me a shock. This is most prevalent when I try to use S-cable to hook it up to my TV. When I read the power adapter specification, it was stated 2A operating current. Wow, that's a lot for something so small and though its DC a 2A electrical shock will definitely give you a wake up called. After a few shock, I think I already built up the phobia and hence was reluctant to hold the unit anymore.

What I don't like about these electronic devices is that usually there are not grounded. I mean there should be a regulation to govern and protection of devices as well as customer. I have a few VCD/DVD players and all of them come with a 2 pin plug which technically are not grounded. Thus Sarotech I felt wasn't very safety conscious by supplying the standard 2 pin plug socket. Hence, I am thinking of whether to make a formal complaint or return the unit to the seller. Nevertheless, I have written a simple email to Sarotech asking for their opinion and feedback whether the electrical shock is confine to my unit alone or its "standard" for all unit. A week is coming to a close ad I have not heard from them. So that speak a lot about their company reputation and also their product. If I am right, my guess is that this so called Korean company is just like those Chinese company. For all we know it might be manufacture in China but stamped with a Korean badge.

OK, besides the 2 problem above, the unit does work. However, the visual quality isn't that fantastic. To me its just normal. I try connection through TV using RCA and S-cable and both yield very much the same output quality. I am giving Sarotech the benefit of doubt and thus place the quality issue on my TV. Perhaps a LCD would yield a much better quality. However, my CRT Panasonic TV is very much very new and is only 2 yrs old. If I am not wrong my TV resolution can support up to 1080i also. Thus I would try to connect to my other LG LCD to make another comparison later on.

Malaysian Politics

0 comments Published Monday, September 22, 2008 by SaiRay.

If you have been reading regularly, you will notice that I had sway from commenting about politics for awhile. Anyway, I felt I need to say what's in my mind at the moment. I am feeling a sense of loss and injustice on what's happening to Teresa Kok (The Seputeh MP).

How on earth can people have no common sense or any rule of law. Is this 2008 or 1908 or barbaric ages. Its like spanking your kids without finding out the truth. What and how does a parents teaches its kid ? I am totally not agreeable to ISA being use on MP Teresa Kok. Where is the fair opportunity to be offer to your kid to explain his side and version of the stories ? You don't lock your kid up and chain him hoping that he/she will be repentant.

My Lorenzo Experience

0 comments Published Thursday, September 18, 2008 by SaiRay.

This happen approx. a month ago. There was this big full page advertisement under the title Merdeka celebration or something like that. I looked through and saw a reasonable looking sofa which I like. So on the same weekend, we went to the nearest Lorenzo to check the actual set. The sales girl was good, friendly and customer oriented. The price quoted was RM1980 on offered.

However, when we decided to purchase, the sales girl told us that there's no more stock. Even the existing display unit was sold. However, the same sofa design with different fabric from the display unit (of course extra $$$) is available. We query how much have to add with different fabric? I felt the additional 1k extra wasn't worthwhile at first. Let's say if we would had able to purchase RM1980, we could in fact request an extra fabric with an extra 1k. Thus not only were we purchasing the same design with the original fabric but top it up with an extra 2nd fabric with a total of 3k.

Instead since the sales girl told us there's no more "old" fabric as display then we have no choice but take other new fabric. We really like the design, the size, the cutting and above all the outlook which pleases our eye. Since she left us no choice, we abandon the purchase. On the way home, we discuss and felt we really like the design very much. So I figure ok, we go to another Lorenzo branch in K.Damansara. We though we try our luck in case that branch were pulling our legs. You know how Chinamen businesses are run. There's never cohesion and centralization. No organization. Man, was I spot on. Lorenzo in K.Damansara have the exact same sofa and exact same fabric. Wait a minute I noticed there was something not quite right. After looking around, I finally know that the price was totally different from the earlier branch. Over here instead of 1980 they were selling it at 2130.

I ask why there was a discrepancy. In fact the promotion was written all over the paper. I couldn't be wrong. But with those sales girl mentalities, you know la.............."we are right, its this price and its 55% discount instead of 60%." I rest my case and no point arguing with them. Following to that I ask what type of fabric they have and whether there are stock for the exact fabric as shown on display unit. To my astonishment, the answer was yes which was different from the one I had gone earlier. Nevertheless, we opted for another fabric combination and was going to pay when the sales lady ask us " Sir, can you choose another different fabric just in case the first one don't have ?". I was like flabbergasted. Did I hear that correctly !! I mean I choose that fabric which I like very much and thus I don't think I want to have a 2nd choice, 3rd choice and so forth. I ask her, what happens if I pay up and I don't have a 2nd choice. This is not right. I mean this is not an objective examination or anything but something to do with taste and preferences. Quietly I thought to myself, hmmmmmmmmm no wonder some people can take and are allowed to have 2nd, 3rd and 4th wife.
I told the sales girl I insist on having a single fabric of choice. Therefore, I would not pay if she can't confirm the product. You mean to tell me that some of your fabric are leftover and thus old stocks or whatever ? You mean to tell me you are selling this sofa and yet you don't know you have the fabric or not. Can a business be run like this ? I was really disappointed. From that point onwards I knew that Lorenzo is definitely being run by a Chinese businessman. It has all the symptom and tell tale of a Chinese disoriented organisation with no professionalism nor sense. I gave her my no. and told her to called me if you have confirm everything else deal is off. Sayonara. However for the next 2 days I did not hear from her. Only on the 3rd day I receive her called and by then I had gone back to the first Lorenzo and ordered a custom fabric for the sofa of my taste.
Therefore to cut a long story short,
1. Beware that Lorenzo is a typical Chinese business entity.
2. There are different prices at different location. Its not all standardise.
3. They don't know if they have the product or not. They can promise you the moon and the sun but its all still just talk. So don't pay upfront or deposit if they can't give you a confirm answer.
After almost a month of waiting, I finally got my new sofa. It does look nice aesthetically but if you look closer there are flaws and quality issue. Therefore paying almost 3k for a 1.5k product is quite disturbing. Everybody I knew will tell me ".....Lorenzo.......that most expensive and over price furniture store ? " Yeah they are right. Its overprice. I am willing to pay but the product you are getting unfortunately isn't "HIGH CLASS" as if you are paying 20k for it. In addition be prepared to be disappointed a few times before getting your sofa. At first the logistic or lady called me to promise me a date which was 2 weeks earlier. However, on the day I was on leave and so to say an hour before the delivery they called me to inform that they can't delivered cause ......"truck broke down.....blah blah......". In fact earlier appointment had also been delay due to inconvenience and etc. So after making a few calls and telling them the basic of integrity, keeping promises and customer relationship.................finally the 3rd appointment came but not on time.
So the moral of the story is this is just another local company which isn't that impressive.

A Forgettable Wedding Dinner

0 comments Published Thursday, September 11, 2008 by SaiRay.

I attended my cousin wedding last weekend in Malacca. It was the worst wedding dinner in my entire life. Not only the food was bad, there was no programme nor any entertainment in what I feel is a 3 star hotel. Since food was halal and my cousin have invited some Datuk and Datin as mention, I didn't have high hopes on the food but at least a minimum expectation. To my horror it was worst that the worst in KL.

Before I go further I perhaps have to talk a bit about my cousin so that you know why I say its a "Forgettable Wedding Dinner". A background and history some sort. Thus this cousin of mine is lucky cause his dad is ex-VP of a MNC. So he is from a well to do family and he got his bachelor from UK even though results are nothing to shout about. He plays golf, go to gym (Fitness First), drink expensive wine and have a fridge to store all his so called favourite wine. Anyway, he is staying with his dad on their own plot of land with a purpose build designer house. Since he was getting married, I heard that his dad pour in 400k just to re-renovate the whole house for his wedding. The house looks good but not fantastic if you ask me. However, it has 2 living hall, a dedicated movie room, 2 kitchen and a garden where you could put a swimming pool and still have lots of land to spare. The funny thing about all this fancy houses and fine living is that it doesn't all tally up.

Honestly since he was the only son, I "expected" his dad to throw in a lavish pre-wedding buffet dinner and a gathering for his ex-client, friends and family. With his vast contact I think his house would be most appropriate to showcase his success since he did so much renovation. Man, was I disappointed to find out that not only was there isn't any buffet/catering but no guest invitation but just home cooked stuff from some of my aunties and only a few relatives. To add salt to wound the host didn't even have the courtesy to call me or my parents to inform of their son's wedding. The invitational card was also through another aunt of ours and thus all info was through many words of mouth.

What really happen was when I checked into the 3 star hotel, the staff counter had ask for our detail and etc. Then she proceeded to ask for my credit card. I ask her why. Then the staff said its for payment verification and etc. I was like jaw drop trying to justify and understand the situation. I ask in detail whether the rooms are provided by the host or pay personally ? When they told me its self paid, I still didn't believe it. So I gave my cousin a call but nobody was answering. I presume the house was noisy and lots of guest so I called my aunt and then after another cousin. When this another cousin pick up I clarify with her about the rooms. She was stun and taken aback too and thought it is suppose to be on the host. To be certain she hand over her phone to the groom (my cousin) and when I ask him straight to the point who pays, he said self paid. Simple english, no beating behind the bush and no mis-understanding etc.

I felt being rip off or taken for a ride at that moment. What kind of relatives is this. I mean I treat them as relative and they treat you as shit. The good thing that come out of this is that as least now I know they aren't that close. We therefore don't need their presence and their relationship. If it wasn't the whole hotel room fiasco thing, I think we could have a good time. In fact I had wanted and offer to pay everything our self with a planned 3days 2 night holiday in one of the hotel near to the beach. Since, I was told that the room was booked for us as guest thus, I have to oblige and cancel our original plan. I was really looking forward for my kids to go to a beach and let them wander and play on the sand.

Lesson learned from the whole episode. Never ever trust and believe and expect the rich to have manners, courtesy nor common sense. For all you know its all only a shell with the house the greatest trophy they can parade proudly.

Investment

0 comments Published by SaiRay.

I thought I give this issue a go since I had been surveying around and had got a few input from a few tycoon...:). Anyway, the issue here is, do you think buying property is really such a good investment ? My own experience tell me that its not. Its all a marketing gimmick and hoax by those investment guru and whatever portrait by those marketing people. I mean I am talking about average here not somekind of lucky hotshot, or a wealthy tycoon kids and etc. So for normal ordinary average guy to purchase a property, a lot of people will tell you its a good investment. Property will appreciate, rental is good and anti-inflation. But there are actually a lot of hidden cost in the purchase like

1. Lawyers & Legal Fees

2. Stamp duty for land office

3. Insurance (Mortgage loan as well as house fire and etc)

So let's say if the house price is RM300k, you gonna folk out approximately RM 330k for the whole process to go through for the initial stage. After the house had been completed, there's another land title/strata title conversion which in lay man terms mean owning the land and the house itself. Technically when you buy a house the house land title has not yet been subdivided from the master title. So it still belong to the developer or the financial who borne the project cost.

Assuming your house is completed or in this example an apartment/condo. You need to pay maintenance cost as well as water, electricity and sewerage and etc. I have met with many opinions with regard to rental. Some pay RM300k for the house and on top of that as soon as getting the keys dump in another 20-30k to renovate the house. Their reasoning is they want to rent out at a higher price. But I have skepticism and without using a calculator I roughly figure its not a good business deal. Why do I say that

1. Let's say if you put in a modest RM20k renovation. How many months at the minimum do you need to keep the tenant ?

2. Maintenance initially are low since a fully furnish house have all things new. However, if the tenant are very irresponsible and you are unlucky things might breakdown frequently.

3. Every time a tenant moved out there will be a significant cost involve. This is like repainting the whole house, repairing broken tiles and etc.

4. Bear in mind that not all tenant are willing to pay more than RM1k for a long term contract. In fact in most cases renting a place for more than 1k are usually a stop gap measure till they can raise enough money to put down upfront deposit for a new house. I mean common sense tells me who in the right mind would want to rent when his monthly rental can pay for a new house ?

5. Besides all the above, there are the sinking fee, assessment rate, annual and reoccurring charges which we don't notice initially.

I have a lot more to share and write about but somehow I can't find the time to sit down and write it. When I do have the time I ended forgetting many of the stuff and point I would like to highlight. This email itself had already taken me a few days to complete. I hope after another month when all my project had been completed I can find the ryhthm and time to write regularly again.

Cartoonkini....

0 comments Published Wednesday, September 03, 2008 by SaiRay.

...and this is my favorite......how true it is........unfortunately :(

Friends

0 comments Published by SaiRay.

I am not too sure how to begin this but yeah...........I want to talk about friends. Perhaps if you had read my previous post you will know that I had lost another good friend of 11yrs to Singapore. I still feel her lost and I have to acknowledge that she was the center of the my dept. She was the gyroscope which balances the ruling power and the opposition. You get the picture. Nevertheless, her lost to me was more than that. She was there to give me another perspective most of the time thought not always I accepted her opinion. I find her occasionally old fashion, stubborn, conservative and wee bit too auntie. Anyway, I miss the out of this world answer. Her witty yet sharp tongue and above all some noises. She was talkative as I was and thus we complement each other. Even our bosses didn't dare to say anything with regard to us making loud noises because we just don't give a damn. She was the epitome and her existence created a sense of comfort and light up the atmosphere.

She was nervous for the major change. The moved, the new job and the new environment. I told her to relax. New place new curiosity, new perspective and new experience. As for the job............she wasn't even aware lady luck had struck her for she would be working in the world's most profitable and largest company in the world. Yeah, it's the top number 1 O&G company in the world and yet she never heard of it before. Now you see where she is from. Then I tell her what can be worst than the Jap company she's working in. There's systematic, blatant woman discrimination, biased and arrogant policy and philosophy practices by the Jap culture. She thought for a second and had to agree with me on that. There's just nothing worst than what she had been experiencing.

Anyway I wish her luck and hope to meet up again with her someday for a nice cup of coffee. Provided she still remembers all that I taught her cause she was computer illiterate when she first started out. She was just your ordinary next door neighbour auntie who doesn't know a thing about facebook, gmail nor what is IM..

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