The one on the left is Packard Bell which I bought nearly five years ago when I came to UK. Five years is a excessively long period for a computer. I has been ok until the recent, when it started to make noise while running and freeze more frequently to a level that I can’t bear anymore. But the crucial point is the power. The connect is not stable any more and shut down by itself very often, which can cause huge damage to the hard drive and I don’t want to lose my data! So it’s time to have a new one now, after bearing for so long.

As you can see, the new one is Sony VAIO FZ11L. I found it when I shopped around PCWorld and Currys Digital. First of all, I like it’s design. Secondly, although Sony is famous for it’s branding, which means a bit more expensive than it supposes to be, this one seems to be acceptable and affordable to me. The price in retailer shops and web store can be very different. I use some price comparison sites to find the a potential one. Finally I chose Laskys and paid less than £150 than the price in PCWorld. They are very good. Free delivery and my laptop arrived as promised.

I have been playing with it the last few days and it was certainly an enjoyment to have a Duo Processor with 2G RAM. It’s a totally different feeling compare to 512M in my old one. Also I want to give some credit to Window Vista, it really improved a lot with graphic and usability. But what pleased me is still the speed. I normally run several softwares together at the same time, especially when I’m doing some web designing. The old one can hold them for a while then a restart is needed. But now everything runs smoothly. A workman must first sharpen his tools if he is to do his work well. So true!

Finally an answer to my mac-fan friends. I was thinking to get a mac because I like to try something different and mac is getting more and more popular. But then when I look over the softwares I used, most of them aren’t capable with Mac, especially those Chinese ones. So in a short run, I don’t think I will get a mac, maybe the one after this. Jenn once threated me that I can’t have one before she does, otherwise mine one will hers. So…maybe get one for “us” in future.

Here are some photos of the new one and old one. I’m lovin it!

My new laptop came with Windows Vista Home edition. But surprisingly it hasn’t been able to support Simplified Chinese, yet!

If you look at the “Local Language Program” in Microsoft website, Chinese (both simplified and traditional) is not in the list. Same in the language support centre, Simplified Chinese is not supportive in the LIP (Language Interface Package) yet.

I can still read and write in Chinese in Word and on the web. However some Chinese software cannot display the language properly. Hope Microsoft can update the language pack ASAP!

==== Update (16/08/2007) ====

It’s good to have some programmer friends like elfoak, my problem solved.

try the following:
Start > Control Pane > Clock, Language, and Region > Regional and Language Options > Administrative > Change system locale > Chinese(PRC)

But it’s the so far the most expensive one in my life!

Last week I worked 7 days a week, average 7 hours a day. The week before last I worked 6 days as well. And it’s going to be more or less the same for the next two weeks.

Although it’s summer holiday for students, but guess I’m not one any more. Last week I paid my very first non-student ticket when I went to watch Rush Hour 3. It was an experience! My friend told me to enjoy the rest of the holiday of my life before start working. I read his email which was sent 8pm tonight when he was still in his office. So I totally understand why he said so. But to be honest I really don’t know how and what to enjoy now! All my friends are left, Jenn is not here, some friends are still in Durham but busy with their Master dissertation or PhD thesis, I’d better not to interrupt. My passport need to be ready for work permit application, so travel aboard is not an option. But even though it’s not the case, the please-apply-for-a-visa-two-month-in-advance rule will put my travel mood off! Finally, I need money for accommodation in London and moving house etc. etc. So “enjoy the rest of your holiday” is more like a saying for me, not something I can do actually do now.

Today is the only day off for the last 10 days. But it’s mid-night now so I’d better off to bed. Tomorrow is another day. Enjoy my work, although it’s only grill chickens!

Ps. check out Jenn’s photos (some in my flickr) from her summer camp. A summer “camp” where you can stay in 4+ star hotels, fly between cities, and all of them are paid for, is it still a camp or “luxury holiday”? Why didn’t I get something like that?! Anyway, she enjoyed it, and happy!