Intel has announced the successor to Intel Core 2 Quad (codename Yorkfield) to be Intel Core i7 (codename Nehalem). I suddenly feel that my Q9450 feels old.

          
Intel Core i7 Processor (Left) and Intel Core i7 Processor Extreme Edition (Right)

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 11, 2008 – Intel Corporation announced today that desktop processors based on the company’s upcoming new microarchitecture (codenamed “Nehalem”) will be formally branded “Intel Core processor.” The first products in this new family of processors, including an “Extreme Edition” version, will carry an “i7″ identifier and will be formally branded as “Intel Core i7 processor.” This is the first of several new identifiers to come as different products launch over the next year.

Products based on the new microarchitecture will deliver high performance and energy efficiency. This “best of both worlds” approach is expected to extend Intel’s processor leadership in future mobile, desktop and server market segments.

Source: Press Release: Next-Generation Intel PC Chips to Carry Intel Core Name

Read: Wikipedia: Intel Core i7

We bought a Asus F8Sg laptop from South Asia Computer at Funan for my dad.

At the moment, he is using his friend’s laptop to Skype with us and hence he is constrain by the timing and duration of each Skype call. Since there is wireless Internet in his apartment and even better still the wireless access point is installed in his room. We think it would be better to have his own laptop and hence we got 1 for him.

The original price is SGD$1,899.90 and since we are paying by cash, we manage to bargain till SGD$1,850. The free gift is one black 160GB Western Digital Passport Portable Hard Disk Drive worth about SGD$120.

Brief Specifications:

• Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (2.1GHz)
• 3GB of DDR2 RAM
• 250GB Hard Disk Drive
• NVIDIA GeForce9300M G with Ext 256MB VRAM
• 14.1 WXGA Screen (1280×800)
• 1.3M high-resolution Swivel webcam
• Built-in WLAN 802.11 a/g/n with Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Razer Lycosa
Li Xiang and I was doing our Mystery Shopper job at Lot 1 Shopping Center and I come across 1 PC shop and 1 Game shop. I got myself an old Xbox game, Capcom Fighting Evolution from the game shop thinking that it should be backward compatible with my Xbox 360. When I reached home and to my horror it is not compatible with my Xbox 360. Just wasted $19.90! I think I shall pass the game to my uncle because he is holding on to my brother Xbox.

I saw a few Razer mouses and I was looking around for Razer keyboards. I saw the Razer Lycosa and when I looked at the price, I got a shocked. They are selling for $119 which is the cheapest according to Hardware Zone forums. Even at the PC Show 2008, they are selling it for $120 with no free gifts.

The Box

The Box When Opened

The Razer Lycosa

Razer Lycosa, Razer DeathAdder, Razer Mantis Control

Kung Fu Panda
It was a last minute decision to watch Kung Fu Panda and apparently the decision is a good one. The show is funny and I love the jokes they crack inside. However, Li Xiang fell asleep 1/2 way through the show, I guess she is tired.

Caught the trailer for Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa before the show and I am so going to watch Madagascar 2. The penguins are back and this time they are driving the plane. I just love this part of the conversation, the penguin said “I have got good news and bad news. The good news is that we are landing now, the bad news is that we are crash landing.” LOL

Here is the trailer for those who did not catch it:

Got the Xbox 360 Pro Console at a special price of SGD$450 at Funan’s Challenger, the usual price is SGD$669 Thanks so much for Ian for the help he given in this. I think a couple of us who went to the Xbox 360 2nd Anniversary Private Party held early this month also bought it at that price. I think I am the first one to collect it though.

You can check out the different Xbox 360 Consoles here.

Xbox 360 Pro Console (Halo 3 Edition)

Inside The Box, There Is Another Box, Wireless Controller And Halo 3

Inside “The Another Box”

Contents Included In Xbox 360 Pro Console

The Console Itself

When Placed In My Room With My 32″ Television

Got myself a Bose Companion 2 Series II Multimedia Powered Speakers from ATLAS (Plaza Singapura) for SGD$199 to replace my old Creative Inspire 4400 4.1 Speakers.

Box – Front

Box – Top

Box – Open

Contents In The Box