I have been working extensively at home these days mainly because I can now bring my work back home, thanks to my BenQ Joybook Lite.
I’ve had problems with my office computer as I keep changing the hardware. I think the hard disk got clottered with all the different drivers I’ve installed, making it REALLY slow, even with an Intel Core i7 965 Extreme Processor on an Intel DX58S0 motherboard with 6GB of DDR3 high performance memory. For those who don’t speak geek, that’s one of the best system you can get these days.
So one day, while changing a graphics card, it refused to startup. I tried everything and it just sit there doing nothing. I had no choice but to format it.
I always wanted to take my work with me on a laptop where ever I go so I’ll have access to my files whenever I needed them. So I figured, this is a great opportunity to start doing this. I had the BenQ Joybook Lite lying there doing nothing, so I bought a 2GB RAM, install it, and get all the proper software in. It’s now my work computer!
My work desktop is now downgraded to only a PC for reviewing stuff and downloading stuff.
So now, the computers I use, besides the two above, are as follows:
Home Desktop
It has a 24 inch LCD monitor connected to it, running on the Windows Vista Ultimate I got from Microsoft’s Heroes Happen Here event at Langkawi. The license is still valid but expiring soon. I used an Intel Core 2 Extreme Q6850 that I “borrowed” from the office with 3GB of memory on a RM200 motherboard. Huge bottle neck there.
It’s main task is torrenting and playing movies. Oh yeah, it’s my mum’s main computer also. The specs are a little (A LOT) overkill for what it does though.
MacBook
My main computer when I’m at home. I use the Macbook to update my blog, surf the net, read blogs, do my work (sometimes) and watch movies (when I’m too lazy to use the home desktop because I have to walk two steps to play it). My personal mail is also configured to receive there as well.
It’s a first generation Macbook, one of the very first units in Malaysia and running on Intel Core Duo 2.0GHz with 1.5GB RAM. It came with 2 x 256MB but I upgraded it to 2 x 1GB. Then I swapped a stick of the 2GB with the EeePC’s 512MB. I recently upgraded it’s 60GB hard drive with a 160GB hard drive I got as door gift from a Western Digital event. The battery has only 20% capacity in it and it can only run on the batteries for about 15 minutes. A new one costs RM700++. I’m not ready to spend on that yet.
It still runs on Mac OS X Tiger that came with it. I have not upgraded it to Leopard as I don’t see a point (yet) to spend RM499 on features I don’t use. I might need to upgrade it if Apple’s PR send me a copy of the iWork 09 or iLife 09 for review.
EeePC 701
Initially I bought the machine for Eileen but she didn’t want it because she said she has no use for it since she is not studying anymore. So the EeePC is basically sitting there doing nothing. It used to be my travel computer but I think I’ll be taking the BenQ Joybook Lite from now on.
It has a copy of Windows XP Professional installed. I got it from a joint license thingy from my university when I was still doing my MBA. I need to unistall it since I am no longer studying in the university but I’ve not graduated yet, so “technically” I can still use it. I swapped the original 512MB memory with the Macbook as 512MB is seriously not enough for a netbook running on Intel Celeron.
Oh yeah, it’s now my mum’s “movie PC” as she uses it to watch movies, that was copied from my brother, in her bed. It’s connected to an external hard drive.
I am really under utilizing my computers. I need to think of something to make full use of them. Maybe making my desktop a home server, storing everything in it. Then the EeePC to be used as my mum’s main computer so that she can do stuff in her room. I am already using my Macbook to stream and access files from my desktop, so there will not be a problem on my side. However, using a quad core processor that costs RM3,000++ (when it was launched) with a 24 inch monitor to be a home server? I don’t think so.
Any ideas?
Oh yeah, some random pictures.
I went to a Microsoft Hardware event and they gave this out in the goodie bag.

The Microsoft Arc Mouse. I wanted to buy one to use with my BenQ Joybook Lite. Luckily I didn’t.
Anyway, the above picture was taken with the Sony Ericson C905 phone’s 8.1 megapixel camera under natural lighting from my room. The mouse was rested on a blank piece of A4 paper. Not bad eh the phone camera.
The netbooks/notebooks I have in my room now:

From L-R: Lenovo Ideapad Y430, ASUS EeePC S101, ASUS EeePC 701, BenQ Joybook Lite, Apple MacBook, Fujitsu L1010.
Picture taken with Nokia XpressMusic 5800. Nothing compared to the C905 eh?