Featured product: Asus X401 series notebooks

Ever used a netbook but find yourself limited or disappointed with the specifications over time? Is the 10-inch and 11.6-inch screen too small for you? Do you find your laptop kind of heavy? Ever wanted an ultrabook but find the price out of your budget range?

Asus may just have the notebook for you. Originally, announced and exhibited on June 2012, the X401 series of notebooks is targeted for consumers who believe in this Taiwanese computer manufacturer's quality and craftsmanship but looking for a budget-friendly model.

Buying items overseas

Thanksgiving in the US is near and that means Black Friday is just right behind. That means sales and discounts on a lot of goodies. But here, we're going to talk about electronic goodies.

It is not surprising then that we will have Filipino expats abroad who will also take advantage of this moment for some hi-tech pasalubong. While Filipino retailers would rather you spend your money here in the Philippines than from some store in the United States, we're still willing to help out and give some advice.

Windows 8 Commercial

It's been playing on the television this past month. Following on the heels of HP's adverts for Ink Advantage printers, here is Microsoft's commercial for their new operating system, Windows 8:

Is the Philippines finally catching up that we have these tech giants finally making advertisements beyond print and now on television and billboards? Let's hope so!

Windows 8 has arrived

Windows 8 has arrived. Here is a look at the OEM version of the latest Windows operating system.

For comparison, on the left is the OEM version of Windows 7, to the right is Windows 8. Both Windows Vista and 7 feature an external packaging made of card stock that is basically a mold of the DVD case containing the installer. Windows 8 takes a more minimalist (though I imagine some would say cheap) approach by placing the product in a card stock envelope minus the DVD case.

So, when we open the package, here is what we get. Gone is the DVD case, replaced by a second card stock envelope. The design reflects the minimalist approach by Microsoft for Windows 8 and the color of the packaging is the same as the tiles you will see when actually using the operating system. The COA label also gets a redesign as well. I don't know if it will fit in the space provided by PC manufacturers in some laptop models but a rectangular shape is a good start.

Using 32-bit key on 64-bit Windows

So, I have a notebook with a Windows operating system pre-installed. The thing is the version installed is a Windows Vista Professional 32-bit. The CPU is a Core 2 Duo. The default memory is a mere 1GB but with an additional slot for expansion purposes. Now, I think why I'm saddled with 1GB. Why can't I upgrade the memory all the way to 4GB?

But wait, didn't they say you couldn't take advantage of the 4GB memory if your OS isn't a 64-bit? That's still true but if you don't mind the extra work, why not reformat your unit with a 64-bit version of Windows Vista?