Retiring Windows XP…

I’ve read the news today that Windows XP will be retiring to make way of the new operating system from Microsoft, the Windows Vista. The article said that starting the end of January 2008, Microsoft will not sell the 6 year-old operating system Windows XP to major computer companies.

Windows XP will stop being available on new PCs from the end of January 2008.

Microsoft is keeping to a plan to stop selling the operating system even though surveys show a lukewarm response to Windows Vista among consumers.

… 

Microsoft has confirmed that from 31 January 2008 large PC makers, such as Dell, HP and Toshiba, will no longer be able to buy licences for the software so they can install it on new machines.

Windows XP is being retired to make way for Windows Vista, the consumer editions of which were launched in Europe on 30 January.

Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6551429.stm.

Well, I can’t still afford to buy new set of high-spec, high-end, high-memory computer so I can’t still use Vista. I have a 3-year old computer right now and it can’t be upgraded to adjust to this operating system. I can’t shift to Linux/BSD operating systems to use because almost all of my tools for my job and my class are window-based. Can’t help it I need to use Windows.

Well let just see what will happen this year! 

PLDT DSL Connection Problem :(

We’ve just upgraded our account in PLDT DSL to higher plan and static IP (and higher fee) last week. Actually the speed is ok, when I try to check our internet speed our connections reaches up to 5+MBps. And I tried downloading some of the programs from our MSDNAA subscription and it took me about 1 hour to finish downloading the Visual Studio.Net image file which is about 2 gigabyte and a Windows XP Professional installation.

The problem is we can’t access Google and Yahoo! Luckily my email is on Hotmail! hehehe I don’t know why! I thought that the configuration of the proxy of our internet server was blocking this sites but I found out that the proxy is just working fine. So I called the technical staff of PLDT and they said that they have some technical problems with these two sites due to some migration or update in their Metro Manila Servers.

Well, I tried to search for the same problem (using MSN of course) and some of the feedback I’ve read from several forums and blogs, said that PLDT is blocking some ports which disallow access to some websites. I don’t know if this is true. Actually I can access Yahoo! and Google through proxy web sites, which makes me think that maybe PLDT DSL is really blocking some websites or maybe there is really a technical problem.

I hope PLDT DSL team will build a website that gives information on the status of their DSL Services so that their clients will have a place to post their feedbacks and violent reactions, hehehe! Well, I’ll check our connection tommorrow and hope to see Google & Yahoo! 

Savebuckets, Online Comparison Shopping Service

Online buying of different products like cellphones, mp3 players, computers, PDA  and other electronic gadgets is now convenient and can save you both money and time. Imagine you don’t need to walk to a lot of shops or malls and with just simple clicks and ticks of the keyboard you can have your orders and payments. 

Of course it will be easy for you decide to do the online buying if you can compare prices from one shop to another shop. Savebuckets can give you a free online comparison shopping service that can guide you on choosing the product you want at the price you want. The site is a searchable database of thousands of products from a wide range of shops that are familiar to you and new to you. Allowing you to select ranges of shops to search your products. They also provide My Price feature that allows you to leave your email address and a specific budget you intended for the product you choose, then Savebuckets will send you an email when a shop’s price falls under your budget.

I tried to search for new mp3 players and digital cameras from Savebuckets to test how convenient this website when it comes to price comparison.  So I typed the keyword "mp3 players" on the search textbox same as the way you use search engines. Then, the server responses very fast giving you both the pictures of the search results with the price and the detailed information about the product’s features, manufacturers and the shop who sell the item. Price comparison is really is easy with this site.  You can visit Savebuckets at http://www.savebuckets.co.uk/

How to withdraw your PayPal Money in the Philippines?

After reading my previous blog, that I’ve earn from blogging , you’ve decided to monetize your blog via signing up to blog advertising websites like PPP, Smorty or Blogsvertise. Now the problem is you can’t withdraw your PayPal money because you still don’t have a Visa credit card (just like me) or a US Bank Account.

You can try the following differents ways (I gathered from different forums I’ve visited) on how to withdraw your PayPal money in the Philippines :

• The easiest way is to apply for a credit card. Union Bank offers an EON Card that you can use for withdrawal of your PayPal Money in the Philippines. You can apply for it online and redeem it to the nearest Union Bank. The annual fee for this card is about P350.00 only.
• A friend of mine uses his GSIS e-Card to withdraw his money from PayPal. Note: Money withdrawn using credit cards from PayPal are treated over payment and can be withdrawn as Cash Advance.
• Another way is using the Chikka.Com service. You can use your PayPal Money to send money through Smart Padala via Chikka.Com. I tried it and it works but it took me three days before Chikka.com accepts my PayPal payment. They actually blocked my account to them. Since my PayPal account is still unverified (which mean no credit card or US Bank Account specified in my PayPal Profile), Chikka.com informed me via email that they need to verify it first so they require me to send a scanned valid company id. So after I comply with their requirements, they accept it and I used my PayPal Money through their service. They charge for a handling fee for every transaction.

Well, good luck guys and may you have earn a lot in blogging! God bless everyone!

Dyson

I found an online store website with a simple, sleek and very elegant design. The www.dyson.co.uk  website! The black background and combination of static 3D images and flash animations makes its online store very astounding.

Dyson website is an online store for different vacuum cleaners: from upright, cylinder, handheld vacuum cleaners, and Dyson spare parts and accessories. The site uses high quality images of the different products giving their clients a look or feel of the real item (low quality images is also available if you have a slow connections or dial-up connections). They also provide a 3D interactive view of all items featured giving you a closer look of the item.  These features provide their clients enough data to decide and choose desired vacuum cleaners. The Dyson spares and part section has a simple interface in selecting different accessories and spare parts to buy. This section provides images of different spare parts and accessories of vacuum cleaners. When you like to purchase for any item, you can easily click the buy button which is available on every image of the item. The section wil forward you to your shopping cart and will give you option to check out (pay) or select for more items.

Any one who visit and interested to buy from this online store will find it easy to use and simple to explore every features of the vacuum cleaners, spare parts and accessories promoted by the site. Through this website, Dyson’s really shows that they can really makes everyday products work better!