I will be Back Blogging!

After a month’s hiatus due to my really busy schedule last month, I was unable to spend some time on this blog. However, Derek’s Tech Blog will be coming back with a BANG this month!

Derek is a Windows 7 Rock Star

Firstly, I have been selected as a Windows 7 Rock Star to blog regarding my experiences with Windows 7. As a result, I am now waiting for my final copy of Windows 7 to be sent to me for everyday use. Do look out for a twice a week posting on my experience with Windows 7 in the coming month!

Secondly, I would also be doing reviews on several software and websites. I currently owe 2 reviews for a music software and a cable selling company ever since July! I would like to sincerely apologize for the delay… Watch out for the 2 reviews to be published soon as well.

Hold your horses and I will be right back with more on tech!

The Future of Hard Disks – Solid State Drives (SSD)

How many hard disks and how many precious data have ever died on you before you did a full backup? For me, I had 2 experiences which almost made me hang myself… SERIOUSLY! In my previous encounters with dying hard disks, precious pictures, videos and document files disappeared before I even got a chance to back them up, thus causing total heartbreak! So the question that most of you may ask is: Why are hard disks failures so common today?

One of the main reasons why traditional magnetic hard disks gets spoiled so easily is because it  runs on spinning magnetic disks. This means that even a speck of dust entering this traditional drive can cause your hard disk to die a slow death, leading to data loss and damages. A strand of hair on the other hand would cause even worst damage. Spinning magnetic disks have been creating problems for so many years till I have no idea why it took so long for the engineers to come up with something new. But fast forward to year 2009, these problems are starting to get answered.

2009 have been a very progressive year for  Solid State Drives, also commonly known as SSD so far. SSD resolves the issues that we have been facing by changing the way data is being read from a disk. By using solid-state memory to store persistent data instead of spinning disks, your data could still survive even if the hard disk have fallen from the 3rd floor of a building. Check out this great video by the guys at Samsung for proof!

Besides being reliable, SSDs also offers better performance, faster startup, no noise and lower temperatures!

The only issue that is preventing SSD from kicking off at the moment though is pricing. Several companies such as Dell and Apple are already introducing SSD based laptops in their lineup. However, the price is still too expensive for the mass public to purchase. Current checks on PC-Zone’s latest brochure shows that a 32GB SSD drive will cost RM299 (USD 150)! That amount of money would be almost enough to purchase a 1 TB traditional hard disk today.  A 64GB one on the other hand would cost RM599(USD200).

Intel® X25-M SATA Solid-State Drive (SSD)

Of course, having said that, I bring you good news regarding the latest development in SSD technology. Just today, Intel announced that they have successfully delivered the industry’s first 34-Nanometer NAND Flash Solid-State Drives. What does this means for us as consumers? SSD drives will now be cheaper by up to 60 percent! So if you are really looking into getting a SSD, you can start scouting around for it in the next few months already.

As time goes on, we hope to see SSDs replacing traditional hard disks in the future so that we do not need to end up keeping backups all the time. And there you have it, the future of more reliable hard disks is coming to you right now!

Delivers Industry’s First 34-Nanometer NAND Flash Solid-State Drives; Advancement Lowers Prices by Up to 60 Percent

A Big THANK YOU to all Visitors!!!

After checking my blog’s stats at WordPress today, I was in for quite a surprise. This blog is hitting close to 1000 hits a week! From a humble beginning of 10 visitors a week in the 1st week of April, the number of visitors have been steadily increasing from strength to strength. I am proud to say that this is quite a milestone achievement for a tech blog which have just started.

Derek's Tech Blog Statistics as of 13th July 2009

As of such, I will try my very best to write more about simple tech stuff that YOU can do. Don’t only view tech from a user standpoint, try getting involved in it too!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have chipped in their comments and ideas in this blog as well. Lets keep in touch.

Windows 7 RC Build 7100 Released!

This may be a little outdated as the release was back on the 5th of May. However, for those of you who do not know, you can download the latest version of Windows 7 right here with your Windows Live ID.

Some of the changes includes a Windows XP mode, which is something like running a Windows XP VPC on Windoes 7, turning off features such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player, a modified Aero Peek, better performances and 30 0ther changes from beta (Build 7000) to RC (Build 7100) as shown here.

I am itching to get it installed during the weekend already. Time to get started!

Me Grimlock is MP-08!

After stressing myself out on work, I have decided to go over to Graffiti Toys to get myself a Master Piece Transformer. This is the very first time that I have got myself a Transformer which is of masterpiece quality. The MP that I got was none other than Dinobot Commander, Grimlock which was just release in Japan about 2 weeks ago! I was pretty lucky to get it for just RM360 (Original retail price: RM400).Below are some snapshots of the toy in robot mode and alternate mode.

MP08 Grimlock’s Box

Grimlock in Robot Mode

Grimlock in Alternate mode

Grimlock with his double barreled gun

“Me Grimlock wants Prime’s Knowledge!”

Grimlock serving drinks!

MP08 Grimlock has quite a number of interesting features and tricks. By pushing his arm, you can get the gun/sword that he is holding to blink. Besides that, he also comes with a apron and drink tray to serve, a la the 1st generation Transformers cartoon! What an interesting toy… Now I am poisoned to get MP01 Optimus Prime… HELP!

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TF Fever: The All New Transformers Alternity Prime Posing with the Newly Designed Blog

Hello everyone! My name is Derek Chan and I am a system developer specializing in Microsoft .NET technologies such as WPF, Silverlight, ASP.NET and Windows Mobile Development. I  also do presentations mainly on topics covering Silverlight, WPF and Mobile Application Development during Microsoft® Malaysia’s Innovation Day event.

After being pursued for quite some time by my peers, I have decided to take some time off to create a blog on WordPress and insert my inaugural post here on March the 12th 2009 (History in the making I’d say). I hope to use this space to blog mainly regarding software development, latest technologies and maybe a little on Video Games and Transformers!

Designing this blog is pretty simple. All I got was a theme which is already available in WordPress and by using some simple Photoshop, I’ve managed to unveil the interface that you are looking at right now. I am sure that some enhancements could be done soon with some more in-depth research. Keep staying tuned for that to happen…

As for now, just sit back, relax and admire the blog which I have setup so far.