Got the Logitech Harmony 300 for SGD$49 from Comex 2011 last week. For those who are unaware, the Logitech Harmony 300 is a universal remote control that allows you to control up to 4 devices such as your Television, Cable Box, Xbox 360 and Media Player.

I wanted to get the Logitech Harmony 200 instead but while I was passing by the Ban Leong booth, I saw the Harmony 300 going for just SGD$49, the usual retail price is SGD$69. It is SGD$20 cheaper than the RRP and only SGD$10 more expensive than the Harmony 200. I will regret it if I don’t get it at that price!

Box Front

Box Contents

Logitech Harmony 300

Connected To The Computer

Configuring the remote is extremely easy! The only down side is, you need to be using IE as the web application is powered by Microsoft Silverlight.

• Go to myharmony.com
• Register an account
• Download and install the software
• Launch myharmony.com again and click “Set up my Harmony remote”

The web app UI is extremely friendly, intuitive and responsive. Adding your device to the remote control is easy as well as Logitech boost a database of about 5,000+ devices, so all you need is just to get the brand and model number for your device. I have more screenshots in the Flickr gallery embedded below.

Add Device

Syncing Back To Remote Control

Home

Synced Devices

Bought the D-Link DNS-320 (SGD$109) and 2x Western Digital 3.5″ SATA Caviar Black 1TB hard drive (SGD$115 each) at Comex 2011 last weekend.

I still bought back a D-Link NAS after my bad experience with D-Link DNS-323 because the DNS-320 is meant for my mom’s office and D-Link service center is just located behind my mom’s office in case anything happens.

I wanted to get the Synology DS211j instead but unfortunately it is out of my mom’s budget. I initially also wanted to get the Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo, but after reading SmallNetBuilder’s review on it, I decided to give it a miss as the review was pretty bad.

The differences between DNS-320 and DNS-323 is quite significant. Now the hard disk is loaded via the top which makes it slightly easier to install as compared to front loading. The user interface has also been revamped and now it bares no resemblance to the usual orange/white/grey D-Link’s interface, it is a much welcomed change but it is a little laggy though. So far for NAS, I have not seen a better web interface than Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM).

For a more technical review, check out my friend, shadowandy, blog post entitled D-Link DNS-320 – Layman speed test.

D-Link DNS-320 Box

Western Digital 3.5″ SATA Caviar Black 1TB

HDD Is Now Loaded Via The Top

DNS-320

Brand New User Interface

At HP Booth 8428 – HP Direct Counter Only
The 16GB and 32GB HP TouchPads will be available for S$118 (S$126 with GST) and S$188 (S$201 with GST) per unit respectively during the first two days of COMEX 2011 (1-2 September 2011). 100 units of the 16GB and 32GB versions each will be available each day and this purchase is limited to one unit per person, regardless of whether it’s 16GB or 32GB. The mode of purchase is cash and carry only, no credit cards or NETs. This is non-refundable and non-returnable.
 
These units will be available at HP booth 8428 (specifically the HP Direct counter), Hall 402/403.
 
At HP Booths (8150, 8245, 8428)
You will also be able to purchase a HP TouchPad 16GB and HP TouchPad 32GB for S$49 (with GST) and S$119 (with GST) respectively with any purchase of a HP TouchSmart610 -1138d, 1178d, 1188d; and HP Pavilion dv4-3020TX, HP Pavilion dv6-6144TX, dv6-6105TX and dv6-6106TX.
 
Your purchase-with-purchase HP TouchPad will be available at RewardsLINK, first come first serve, while stocks last.

RewardsLINK
3 Temasek Boulevard #02-163
Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983
 
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 11.00am – 7.00pm
Eve of X’mas /New Year/CNY: 11.00am – 3.00pm
Closed on X’mas, New Year and CNY
Email: contactus@marquev.com

 
Note

• These offers are available while stocks last.
• Terms and conditions apply.
• Purchases of the HP TouchPad from COMEX 2011 are not entitled to benefit from any other promotions or programs (including without limitation the HP Rebate/Refund/Return Program).

*UPDATE* 18:48, 01/09/2011: Due to safety and security concerns, the sale of the standalone HP TouchPads at COMEX will be discontinued. However, HP PCs purchase with purchase offers for the HP TouchPad will still be available at COMEX. Source at HP Singapore Facebook Page.

• IT Show 2009
  • Date: 12th March 2009 to 15th March 2009
  • Venue: Suntec City (Level 1,2,3,4,6)
  • Website: http://www.itshow.com.sg/
• PC Show 2009
  • Date: 11th June 2009 to 14th June 2009
  • Venue: Suntec City
  • Website: http://www.thepcshow.com.sg/
• Comex 2009
  • Date: 10th September 2009 to 13th September 2009
  • Venue: Suntec City
  • Website: http://www.comexshow.com.sg/
• Sitex 2009
  • Date: 26th November 2009 to 29th November 2009
  • Venue: Singapore Expo (Hall 5, 6)
  • Website: http://www.sitex.com.sg/

Comex 2008
Comex 2008 was held in Suntec City Convention Center from the 28th August 2008 to the 31st August 2008. I hooted the following:

For My Mom:

• Canon Color Ink For Canon Printer MX700 – SGD$50 (Free SGD$10 NTUC Vouchers)
• 2x Canon Black Ink For Canon Printer MX700 – SGD$44 (Free SGD$5 NTUC Vouchers)

For Li Xiang:

• Canon Color Ink Value Pack Canon Printer MP160 – SGD$55 (Free SGD$5 NTUC Vouchers)
• Microsoft Basic Optical Mouse – SGD$19.90

For Myself:

• D-Link DNS-323 – SGD$199 (Sim Lim Square’s Fuwell selling for SGD$235)

D-Link DNS-323
I have been aiming for the DNS-323 for quite a couple of weeks, Fuwell is selling for $235 which is a little steep. I am quite surprise Comex is only selling for $199 as from what I heard PC Show 2008 which is held back in June is selling for $189. But nevertheless, it is still cheaper than $235. I went to Comex on Thursday, 28th August 2008, and at 12pm sharp, when the doors are open, I headed straight to the D-Link booth. I have already did my homework on where the booth is located. Once I am at the booth, I told the temp staff I want the DNS-323 and he got stun for a few seconds as I think he didn’t expect me to buy it so fast, if I am not wrong, I am the first customer of the booth.

2 weeks before Comex 2008, I have already went to Sim Lim Square’s Fuwell to buy Western Digital Caviar Green Power (GP) 1TB for SGD$220. At that time I did not want to run RAID 1 and hence I only bought 1 HDD. But after getting the DNS-323 and playing it on Friday, I decided to try RAID 1 and hence the next day I went to Sim Lim Square’s Fuwell to get the exact same hard drive which I bought 2 weeks ago. The price is still the same.

Western Digital Green Power hard drive is fantastic, it is very quiet, even when I put the 2 hard drives into the DNS-323, overall it is still quiet. The only irritating thing is the blue LED lights which is so bright when all the lights are off.

I got a major problem when running RAID 1 on the DNS-323, the formatting of drives always get stuck at 94% and after lots of goggling, I realized that it is a firmware bug. I downgraded to 1.04 (currently is 1.05) and set the inactivity timer to 90mins instead of the default value and that seems to solve the problem.

D-Link DNS-323 Box

D-Link DNS-323 Box Contents

Western Digital Caviar Green Power (GP) 1TB

Space Chimps
Caught Space Chimps a couple of weeks ago and the movie was just average, the funniest part of the movie are all in the trailer.

Death Race
Caught Death Race last week, starring Jason Statham, Joan Allen and Ian McShane. It is directed by Paul WS Anderson. The movie was good and basically it is a action packed movie almost throughout the whole movie.

WALL-E
WALL-E stands for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class and EVE stands for Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator. I have been wanting to watch this movie since the trailer aired in Singapore quite a number of months ago. Managed to catch it at GV Max on Friday midnight show. The show was good in terms of both storyline and humor. Go and catch it.

I saw the toy selling for SGD$19.90 for both WALL-E and EVE. So tempted to get it but in the end didn’t get it. You can view the toys here.

Dad’s Back For 4 Days
My dad came back on Saturday for 4 days and will be leaving on Tuesday, 2nd September 2008. Vietnam has a public holiday and his company give them another day off and my dad just need to take 1 day leave and he can come back for 4 days.

We have been bringing him around eating and eating as Hanoi food is not suitable for him. He lost about 2kg and now I can see his 6-pack.

The next time he will be back shall be in December 2008 where his contract ends. He might renew his contact if the offer is good.