Archive for July, 2008

Windows XP SP3 knowcks out all nvidia 630i integrated network controllers

Jul 31st

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Hardware

1 comment

Pay attention if you are a Nvidia 630i chipset based motherboard user.

If you are using an installation source containing Windows XP SP3, then nvidia WHQL drivers for 630i would fail to load the integrated network card under Windows XP SP3.

This is what nvidia supports writes back to me,

Hi, thanks for your message and for letting us know. We have heard rumours that XP service pack 3 is related to a similar issue, in which case we would ask that you try without SP3, but also we do have a BIOS update on our website, always best to have the latest to ensure minor bugs do not cause further issues. Hope all goes well, however if any queries or problems please keep us posted.

No solution is available as of now at-least, however as per motherboard manufacturer XFX, Microsoft is working with nvidia to issue a patch for XP3 to make it accept the present WHQL drivers for its integrated LAN !!

Damm the Devil, Damm the Yahoo..

Jul 28th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in My Life

12 comments

A .com domain for USD 35 ??

I can’t believe my eyes as what I am reading. In a time where Microsoft Live Office Apps are offering free domain to US business users, there, Yahoo small busiess service is charging USD 35 (34.95) for a single .com domain renewal.

Damm the Yahoo

ChotoCheeta.com is registered with Yahoo back in 2006, and I have opted for the yahoo option which allows yahoo to autometically bill me every year and today I see in my Credit Card bill, USD 35 (34.95) is been charged by Yahoo Inc for renewal of ChotoCheeta.com for one year..

Damm the Yahoo..

Cheap solution to convert your ordinary PC to a Media Center PC

Jul 28th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Hardware

6 comments

As you walk in to any computer store or IT shop, you see they are displaying PCs with capability to watch and Record TV running Windows Media Center. You may wonder, do you need to pay for the full PC to obtain the Media Center functionality of the PC.

Infact no, all these Media Center PCs have in extra is a Tv Tuner Kit (PCI based TV Tuner Card and a Remote control) along with the Media Center Edition of Windows XP or Windows Vista.

How much would a TV tuner Kit cost ?

Tv Tuner Kit for Media Centr PCs

Any good Windows Vista compatible TV Tuner Kit from brands like WinFast / LeadTek or Pinnacle may cost you around Rs. 2000 (USD 50 / EURO 35).

Where to get the Media Center Software ?

Windows Media Center Software

What is that software you see with Media Center PCs ?? Usually its the Windows Media Center, which may come with Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 or as an integrated part of any installation of Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate editions.

Where as similar softwares, which allows you to view / record / pause live TV would come with your TV tuner kit from the hardware vendor it self, an example would be Pinnacle TV Center Edition. So any one or both of them can be used for your TV viewing needs.

So let us view few tricks on how exactly you can transform your regular PC to a Media Center Edition without burning a hole in your pocket ?

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One year of Anti-Malware software License for free

Jul 27th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Security Software

2 comments

Newly launched Windows Vista community, the WinVistaClub.com forums are offering A-Squared Anti Malware 12 months paid license for free to all its forum member on 1st / 2nd August.

The rule is simple, one needs to be member of WinVistaClub forum and visit the web site on 1st of 2nd August. So those who wants can get a free copy of a paid product !

Talk to a girl and get expelled from the College

Jul 24th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in My Life

3 comments

This is an interesting read which I come across at Gaurish Sharma Live. All though it is nothing which is directly related to technology, but in a country, which is crowned as one of the IT leaders in the world, there an university operates with such rule which suggests,

A way to get expelled from your college ?

Well if you are a boy then simply talk to a girl class mate or vice versa.

Thats what at least what Sathyabama University rules states.

In a global economy where they should put more effort on developing student personality for multi gender work environment, there you cant even talk to any class mate who is a girl !

Which Laptop / Notebook to buy – A notebook / laptop buying guide (August 2008)

Jul 24th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Computer

69 comments

The percentage of question which comes to me each day for a new computer is now being dominated by laptop / notebook segment. specially the budget range of Rs. 30,000/- to Rs. 35000/- is what seems people are really attractive too (USD 700-800 range !!)

As I continue to reply emails support request, I see not every model are available in all parts of the country hence I thought to listing few basic steps about finding the right notebook for you.

Why do you need a notebook / laptop ?

Before even you think of buying a notebook, ask your self, the most important question, what exactly would you do with your notebook.

List the mostly used applications for your purpose !! Will you do office jobs, like running tally / accounting software / MS office / emails / printing where you need some entertainment or rather you are looking for a desktop replacement or may be you simply needs to stay online while you are mobile and you are mobile for a longer period of day..

List your task in an oder in which you would mostly use it for…

For example, you have a good desktop configuration back home, so as in office, but for some reason often you have to travel an while you are in move yu must stay in touch of emails and your web site and use some MS office apps.. If you fall in this category, what you need is really light weight device with smaller screen size and just enough power to exicute Windows XP along with MS Office.. For this purpose, 7″ utra portable like ASUS EEEPC / Acer Aspire One / HCL MiLeap type devices are idle !!!

Find the right category for your self ?

There are certain category in notebook / laptop segment,

7″ Ultra portables

Like ASUS EEEPC, they are ultra portable 7″ / 8″ display products comes with 700 to 900 MHz VIA / Intel Celeron / Intel Atom processors, 2 / 4GB Flash based HDD Drive, 512 MB RAM, really light weight. Prices range from Rs. 13000/-

12″ / 13″ Ultra portables

Basically performance devices while keeping the system small. Comes with Core 2 Duo processors, performance graphics cards, upto 4 GB RAM, higher resolution display, upto 250 GB HDD, price may start from Rs. 45 or Rs. 50k for devices like Dell XPS M1330.

14″ / 15″ All in all performance

This is a really versatile platform, price range starts from Rs. 22000 with Intel Celerom mobile processors and can go upto a Rs. 1lack with performance hardware. They heavy and bit bulky too. Like Compaq C702TU / Apple MacBook Pro 15″

17″ Desktop replacement

Performance hardwares meant to replace the need of an desktop !!! They are not really meant for every day movement, price may start from Rs. 38k with compaq model to Rs. 1,35,000 for an MacBook Pro 17″ or Alineware performanc beasts !!

Hey, what about configuration ?

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Intel agrees on their typos about Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 web page

Jul 24th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Hardware

1 comment

Finally Intel has replied back on the issue with their web site, regarding contradictory information shown about Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 with its EM64T feature.

They agree on the fact that the mention page does have wrong information as they write,

Hello,

Thank you for contacting Intel(R) Technical Support.

I understand that you want to know if the Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E4700 has the Intel(R) Extended Memory 64 Technology.

At this time the Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor E4700 has the Intel(R) Extended Memory 64 Technology feature.

Victor L.
Intel(R) Technical Support

However even still now, at the time of posting this entry in Choto Cheeta Online, I see Intel web site is still showing the same falsified information about the product.

DIGG is on for sell / Google to buy DIGG.com

Jul 24th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Web Development

No comments

Google to Buy DIGG

Google has offered DIGG.com a offer of USD 200 million to buy the company and hopes to close the deal in next 2 weeks.

Interesting read is that, DIGG is in a 3 years contract with Microsoft for web advertisement which Google is suppose to terminate after the purchase.

Comparison to Microsoft and Yahoo, Google never have developed any services similar to DIGG so far and with this purchase, Google is hoping to enhance their own new service, Google News. However the news web service, DIGG.com, ranked in top 10 Web sites will continue to operate in contrast to Google News even after the purchase !!

Source -> NDTV.com

Here comes the iPhone – AirTel / Vodafone India is set to offer iPhone in India

Jul 20th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Hardware

2 comments

Apple iPhone

Its official now, both Vodafone India and AirTel is now accepting pre-booking (pre order) for Apple iPhone under their network.

AirTel now offering apple iPhone

Vodafone now offering Apple iPhone

There is no official dates are announced for the general sell, however it is expected to be September / October at the time of Laxmi Puja / Dashera festivals. Though in US market the 8GB version of the 3G iPhone is around USD 200, but neither Vodafone nor AirTel has yet commented on the price of product in India under their network !!!

Apple India is set to offer students discount on their portable product range (MacBook / MacBook Pro)

Jul 18th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Hardware

8 comments

Finally Apple India is set to offer student discount on their portable Mac range. Just like US / UK where apple has a good market share in student community with their privilege discount schemes via respective university programs, now Indian students of selected universities can also purchase an apple portable range MAC with 12% discount.

Apple MacBook / MacBook Pro with discount

Selected models of MacBook 13″ (MB402ZP/A / MB403ZP/A / MB404ZP/A) and MacBook Pro 15″ / 17″ (MB133ZP/A / MB134ZP/A / MB166ZP/A) shall be available to the students of selected universities with 12% discount upon their MRPs.

Those who wish to avail the discount may contact Apple Authorized sellers of India or may apple online via this link -> http://macforstudents.netbiz.in/form.aspx

However, compare to similar range products of Dell/ HP / Lenovo or Sony, even with the discount the price of an Apple product seems to be too high for an average Indian student to afford. But then again, as all mac lovers say, “Macs are not for average / poor, Apple targets the elite class”.

So do you belong to that elite class ??

Windows Vista Downgrade Rights to keep Windows XP alive

Jul 14th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Windows

6 comments

Internet community / forums / discussion boards are buzzing with words about the the nearing death of Windows XP as Microsoft is in process to stop production for OEM / Retail versions of this product after 30th June.

Need Windows XP ?? Here is the answer !!!

However many do not know or rather do not consider that Microsoft Vista END user license comes with an option called Windows Vista Downgrade rights.

Windows Vista Downgrade rights

What is Windows Vista Downgrade Rights ?

If you are a legal owner of Windows Vista OS (Business / Ultimate), you are allowed to downgrade your copy to Windows XP (Pro / x64 / Tablet PC) free of charge. Which means if you buy Windows Vista and for any reason you do not wish to continue with Windows Vista, Microsoft allows you to downgrade and install Windows XP on your system free of charge.

More >

Typos in Intel Web Site – E4700 with EM64T or without EM64T ??

Jul 12th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Hardware

2 comments

As per my knowledge and as per product information of Intel, all core 2 duo processors support Intel EM64T architecture. It is also clearly mentioned in Intel Core 2 processors product information page.

Intel Web Site product information for Core 2 Duo

Where as in the Core 2 Duo model specification chart, it is shown that Intel Core 2 Duo model E4700 (2.6 GHz / 2 MB / 800 MHz FSB) is missing Intel EM64T support.

Intel Core 2 Duo model number details chart

Confuse ? Well wait, another twist is still remaining. Let’s view the individual product page for Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 (2.6GHz / 2 MB / 800 MHz FSB), which once again states that E4700 do come with EM64T.

Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 product information page

It appears to me that Intel have made a typing error, either E4700 comes with EM64T or without it, so one of these 3 pages are showing wrong information. My personal guess is the Intel Core 2 Duo product number detailed chart is showing wrong information !!!

However have sent an email to Intel web admins by pointing this issue, let us see which of these pages are wrong, but its quite confirmed that one of them do have typos !!!

Google adds new protection feature for Gmail

Jul 11th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Web Development

1 comment

Recently many of you may have noticed a new of text saying “Last account activity: x minutes ago at this IP (xx.xx.xx.xxx). Details” in your Gmail account footer details.

Gmail showing last login IP details

Google in process to activate this security feature in all present Gmail / Google Apps email accounts.

What exactly is this ?

Every time you login to your Gmail account, Google logs the type of login and IP address of your PC / Notebook / Mobile which is used for the login process. For greater security, Google would now give you a chance to review last 5 session details also which are the method for 5 last login to access Gmail and the session’s IP details.

Remote logout and last 5 login details

The service would warn you if it detects another login from any other IP and access type. It would also give you option for force a remote logout of all sessions.

As per Google developers, you are no longer need to scratch your head, remembering whether you logged out from your office / college / friends / Cyber Cafe PC or not, as now you can force a remote logout if you have not done so from the physical system !!!

Cheapest Internet Device – Free Internet via TATA CDMA phones ??

Jul 7th

Posted by Choto Cheeta in Hardware

53 comments

TATA indicom is a major CDMA operator of India offering really cheap handset along with their connection allowing people to become mobile.

One of the cheapest handset or mobile instrument they provide is Haier C2010 which retails at Rs. 700/- without any connection charge. Where as one may obtain one year of connection with Rs. 149. So handset + connection makes it Rs. 850/-, properbly the cheapest one available.

TATA Haier Model c2010 a Rs. 700 phone

While playing with the handset I find the back port is very similar to USB (male) Mini-B Type. The one which I have in one of my external USB card readers and can be found in advance models such as Nokia 5200.

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