It’s true. Kingston has just released the very first 256 GB Flash drive. Imagine how much data you can store in just a tiny piece of storage. If you are an IT Specialist like me, you would surely go to the hardware store now and inquire…

And that was exactly what i did….

Out of curiosity and surprised with this information, i swiftly went to SM Megamall Cyberzone at Ortigas Pasig Philippines myself to inquire and check what’s in store. But to my dismay,  i found out most of the local stores here – Octagon, Villmall, Apple Center, Sony Center, Toshiba Center, PC Corner just sells 1 GB -4 GB -8 GB- 16GB variants at most for price ranges of 400-3000 Philippine Pesos denominations. Hmmm…. i wonder when these Kingston Flash Drives would arrive in Manila.

You see  i am just amazed like everyone else. I remember  roughly around 6 years ago, I bought my very first 500MB SanDisk Flash drive for a whopping price of P8000 (Philippine Pesos) ! Then came my external hard drives in the following  100GB, 120GB, 256 GB and 1TB Seagate and Western Digital variations…. now 256GB in flash drives? Technology  is surprising us day by day and such innovation makes our world interesting to live in. This product could give us a glimpse of how the future holds for SSDs and flash drives.

The DataTraveler 300/310 is capable of holding up to 54 DVDs or 51,000 JPEGs or 10 Blu-ray single layer discs and works perfectly with Windows, Linux and OS X-based systems.

According to Kingston Website, Kingston’s new DataTraveler® 300 USB Flash drive carries the highest capacity available on the market. Up to 90% of the drives content can be password protected and conveniently accessed due to the new Password Traveler software. No administrator rights are required. Fast transfer speeds guarantee smooth data flow to your host device.

Features/Specifications:

• Capacity¹ — 256 GB
• Speed ² — Data transfer rates of up to 20MB/sec. read and 10MB/sec. write
• Safeguarded — includes Password Traveler security software for Windows
• Convenient — does not require Administrator rights to access the Privacy Zone
• Dimensions — 2.78″ x 0.88″ x 0.65″ (70.68 mm x 22.37 mm x 16.45 mm)
• Operating Temperature — 32° to 140° F (0° to 60° C)
• Storage Temperature — -4° to 185° F (-20° to 85° C)
• Simple — just plug into a any 1.1 or 2.0 USB port
• Practical — durable, capless design
• Guaranteed — five-year warranty
• Enhanced — for Windows ReadyBoost™ on Vista-based systems ³
• Compatibility Table

  Operating System	File Transfer	Password Traveller
  Windows® 7
  Windows Vista® (SP1)
  Windows ReadyBoost™
  Windows XP (SP1, SP2, SP3)
  Windows 2000 (SP4)
  Mac OS X v.10.3.x+
  Linux v.2.6.x +

Now the price? If you’re rich enough to spare a US$1300 tag then this is for you…. check out http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320506182801

But if you would ask me, I don’t think i would buy anytime soon….. probably in the coming months when my budget fits the tag…. ;D

I couldn’t help but blog about this. This Sony VAIO am using right now is my new baby! What can i ask for? Imagine for $749.99 or roughly around P35,249.53.00 (i.e. $749.99* P47 conversion as of this writing) you can actually own an  Intel-based Core i3-330M Processor combined with all smart features of a genuine LAPTOP (am using it here in MANILA).

I must admit, it took me sometime to sit down, ponder my current needs and eventually realize that i needed to buy a new one. With my busy schedule as a student, full-time IT professional by day, part time blogger & CEO of my own business for a sideline it’s rational to think that i can be highly selective when choosing an alternative laptop. My almost 4-yr old Toshiba M100 Sunlight Laptop is losing its shine already having the machine used for almost 24×7 in my daily operations. I know it needed some break and hence this decision. Cashing out around P69,999.00 (tax included) at Octagon Megamall Manila was really a cry for my pocket during that time but i realized it was still one great investment after all because of my unequivocal urgent need  plus am still using it until now.

Actually I’ve been eyeing for Sony VAIO Laptop for like a year already… much like when they started to release their notebook VAIO product lines. At first instance, I got a huge crush on this Sony Black VAIO Z series because of it’s powerful and business-centric features. But my heart jumped off because of the price tags here in MANILA. The exquisite design for such series is pricing for around P130,000 bucks. Check out www.sony.com.ph. I can’t barely imagine! But later on as i did my further research and successive hands on trial/ demo use at VAIO Store in SM Megamall, and to the other Sony outlets, considering my budget constraints/need, i decided to shift my gear to Sony VAIO CW Series instead only to find out it’s actually cheaper to buy such models in the US than here in Manila. Check out www.sonystyle.com for comparison. They have US-based pricing schemes.  The good thing was, i was able to find a good contact c/o my sister and got the item Sony VAIO CW purchased at bestbuy.com. I don’t have much credit left in my credit card hence i decided to buy some dollars in the local bank then handed them over to my sister’s friend who happen to be going to the US as well. Talking about social networking???? Yipee…. .

I’ve had this computer for like about a week already, and I am really loving it! Though i mostly prefer black in all my gadgets, this Sony VAIO CW i bought looks great with the color Icy white, very neat! It makes me feel like I am using a Mac Pro much like now that I have installed a Clown Fish Wallpaper, lol! This I3 Core processor is much faster than my Core 2 Duo Toshiba I’ve mentioned, and there is an ample memory left for other programs to run smoothly . 4GB is heaven! LED display is crystal clear and looks sharp and exquisite when video is output to HDTV via HDMI. The HDMI feature requires no setting up: just plug in the cable to the laptop and the television, and it’s all set. The touchpad mouse has multi-touch zooming capability as well which i think is cool. Windows 7 is a difference maker but would have preferred if this is Windows 7 Professional instead of Windows Home Premium installed.  But hey, it’s totally fine as i could get it upgraded anytime i want for $89. Windows 7 is amazing, performance is great, screen size + resolution looks great, keyboard has a sleek design and comfortable, mouse pad is very responsive. The keyboard is very “Mac-ish” in style which i like. I also notice this  little “click” with each button pressed, an albeit quiet noise that some may not like especially some teens but that’s totally irrelevant….i wonder if i buy a black keyboard skin this time to see what’s the effect.  The battery life appears better than the average, though I just wish that it had a Blu-Ray player which maybe a nice complement for $750.  And one more thing i noticed is that even if I keep this laptop running for the whole day (say 8-10 hours – i am leaving this at home when am working), it still doesn’t make a huge noise and it doesn’t heat up very quick unlike my old Toshiba which requires you to get a cooling pad to suppress the heat inside. Looks amazing, sleek design and performs better then most upscale computers.

Sony VAIO CW Product Features : Model: VPCCW21FX/W | SKU: 9705355

• Intel® Core™ i3-330M processor
  Features a 3MB L2 cache and 2.1GHz processor speed.
• The all new 2010 Intel® Core™ i3 processor
  Features smart 4-way processing performance for HD quality computing.
• 4GB DDR3 memory
  For multitasking power, expandable to 8GB.
• Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive with double-layer support
  Records up to 8.5GB of data or 4 hours of video using compatible DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL media. Also supports DVD-RAM.
• 14″ LED-backlit widescreen display
  With 1366 x 768 resolution showcases movies and games in stunning clarity.
• 500GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 rpm)
  Offers spacious storage and fast read/write times.
• NVIDIA GeForce 310M GPU
  With 256MB dedicated graphics memory and 2007MB total available graphics memory. HDMI output for connection to an HDTV. Intel® High Definition Audio support.
• See the benefits of an NVIDIA graphics processor in your laptop.
• Built-in MOTION EYE webcam
  With microphone and face-tracking technology makes it easy to chat with and send video mail to family and friends.
• Multiformat media reader
  Supports Memory Stick PRO and Memory Stick PRO Duo formats with MagicGate functionality. Also includes a Secure Digital card slot.
• i.LINK (IEEE 1394) port and 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports
  For digital data transfer and mobile digital imaging capabilities.
• Built-in wireless LAN (802.11b/g/n)
  To wirelessly connect to the Internet.
• Built-in A2DP Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) interface
  For linking with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a mobile phone or MP3 player.
• Built-in 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T Fast Ethernet LAN
  With RJ-45 connector for a quick and easy wired Web connection.
• Weighs 5.3 lbs. and measures 1.5″ thin
  For easy portability.
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition 64-bit operating system preinstalled
  Provides a stable platform for word processing, Web navigation, gaming, media storage and more.
• Software package included
  With Sony Creativity Suite, Microsoft Works SE 9.0 and more. 60-day trial version of Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 also included.
• ENERGY STAR qualified
  Designed to use less energy and meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy.
• Intel, Pentium, Celeron, Centrino, Core, Viiv, Intel Inside and the Intel Inside logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

Overall this computer has been perfect for what I need.  I can run numerous programs and even play music and movie all at the same time, with no performance problems. I will agree that maybe it is a lil too many extra unnecessary programs on here, but the computer is wonderful!! Great investment for any “computer needing” person.” It is incredibly fast, even when I’m multi tasking. It streams video without any choppiness. All in all this is an excellent buy for the money and for anyone who’s looking for an above par experience I highly recommend this laptop. In my opinion, if you want a solid running lappy, that looks like a Mac, that blows the price versus options of a Mac outta the water, go with this or any of Sonys VAIO Product lines. I Highly recommended them.

***For more inquiries and possible orders of any  Sony VAIOs (MANILA Users only),we can get better pricing deals. Just contact me for more details.

• SingTel will offer iPhone to its 2.3 million subscribers in Singapore
• Globe Telecom will offer it to 21 million subscribers in the Philippines
• Bharti Airtel will offer it to its 64 million customers in India
• Optus will offer it to its 7 million customers in Australia.

Despite the delay that this has brought, this would definitely still be a hype in the region. Although not yet disclosed on Globe Telecom website what iphone products would be releasing, I hope they would be brilliant enough to showcase the 3G editions as the trend for mobile computing would definitely be the demand in the coming months and years to come.

For avid apple iphone fan fanatics out there, here’s a preview of 3g iphone as rumored to be released on june 2008. (Courtesy from YouTube) Enjoy! =)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTg_tN4pscQ

So. Just to itemize it, Here’s my new PC Specs:

Running DxDiag to Command Prompt gives me system information of my PC..(For this blog i wont be able to show all the output since its very technical.. so just going for the basics…)

——————
System Information
——————
Time of this report: 5/19/2008, 17:42:10
Machine name: DHDC423
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP Compaq dc7700 Convertible Minitower
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2024MB RAM
Page File: 1022MB used, 2893MB available
Windows Dir: C:WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode
Accelerator in Use: Intel(R) Q965/Q963 Express Chipset Family
Video BIOS: 1348
Current Graphics Mode: 1280 by 1024 True Color (60 Hz)
Harddrive: 160 GB Seagate (2 Partitions)
Integrated Features: CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo
=============================================================
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000
Type : Mouse, keyboard
Networking : Network Adapter
Ethernet Controller(s): Realtek RTL8100C
Data Link Protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet
Features: Wake on LAN (WoL)
Compliant Standards: IEEE 802.2, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3U, IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.1p
===========================================================
Type :Sound Card, Integrated
Audio Adapter : Intel HD AudiO
Max Sample :Rate 192 kHz
==============================EXPANSION====================
Expansion Bays Total (free) 3 ( 2 ) x front accessible – 5.25″ x 1/2H
1 ( 1 ) x front accessible – 3.5″ x 1/3H
2 ( 1 ) x internal – 3.5″ x 1/3H
Expansion Slots Total (free) 2 ( 2 ) x PCI – full-height
1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x16 – full-height
1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x1 – full-height
1 ( 0 ) x processor – LGA775 Socket
4 memory – DIMM 240-pin
Interfaces 8 x Hi-Speed USB – 4 pin USB Type A ( 2 in front )
1 x serial – RS-232 – 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9)
1 x parallel – IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) – 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25)
1 x keyboard – generic – 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style)
1 x mouse – generic – 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style)
1 x display / video – VGA – 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x audio – line-in – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x audio – line-out – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
2 x microphone – input – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 1 in front )
1 x headphones – output – mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 1 in front )
1 x network – Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T – RJ-45

========================================================================================
Attached to my CPU, is a new laptop keyboard, Flat HP 17″ Color Monitor, Optical HP mouse and a DVD LightScribe Writer!

This is totally a lot of improvement for my work schedule.

There’s always more to a standard business desktop computer than meets the eye and i think this one is for me. =) Design choices and color can also influence a PC’s usability and reliability, and affect how much it costs to manufacturer and in turn, the asking price. HP’s dc7700 is aimed at the small office or the larger institution installing on a one-per desk basis just like where at my work right now

Now being sold at : $904.99 .The good thing is this PC is mine for free! =)