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NCLI
April 4th, 2011, 10:55 AM
I just spent five hours walking around central Tokyo(Akihabara), shopping for a new computer. I ended up getting a custom-built Vaio. Very cheap, and built using exactly the parts I want/need, including a Core i7-2620M, and an ATi 6630M GPU, 1080p 15.5" LED monitor, and 7 hours of battery life.

To make the deal even sweeter, it'll be delivered to my place free of charge as soon as it is ready, probably on Monday!

The only bad thing I have to say is that there is no way to not get Windows, but I'll live.

Anyway, just felt like sharing. I can't wait to install Ubuntu 11.04 on this sucker :D

Random_Dude
April 4th, 2011, 11:08 AM
Do you live in Tokyo? Or just went there to get the computer you wanted? :P

Philsoki
April 4th, 2011, 11:16 AM
That's pretty awesome. I want to visit Japan some day. Can you speak Japanese? And... Nice specs. Although, I'm more of a Nvidia guy. ;)

RiceMonster
April 4th, 2011, 11:59 AM
Did you move? I thought you were from Denmark.

Grenage
April 4th, 2011, 12:02 PM
I just spent five hours walking around central Tokyo(Akihabara), shopping for a new computer. I ended up getting a custom-built Vaio. Very cheap, and built using exactly the parts I want/need, including a Core i7-2620M, and an ATi 6630M GPU, 1080p 15.5" LED monitor, and 7 hours of battery life.

That's what the "customise" option is for on the VAIO website. ;)

fela
April 4th, 2011, 12:09 PM
Anyway, just felt like sharing. I can't wait to install Ubuntu 11.04 on this sucker :D

Have you used Ubuntu 11.04 yet?

NCLI
April 4th, 2011, 12:14 PM
Do you live in Tokyo? Or just went there to get the computer you wanted? :P
I'm living here for one year, starting last friday, studying Japanese :)

That's pretty awesome. I want to visit Japan some day. Can you speak Japanese? And... Nice specs. Although, I'm more of a Nvidia guy. ;)
I used to be an nVidia guy, but all of their new high-end mobile GPUs use Optimus, which doesn't work with Linux, and ATi's cards are both cheaper, more powerful, and well supported.

Did you move? I thought you were from Denmark.
I am from Denmark, but yes, I've moved temporarily :)

Truth be told, I live in Saitama right now, but I'll be moving to Akihabara in 3 months.

That's what the "customise" option is for on the VAIO website. ;)
Doesn't exist in Denmark ;)

Have you used Ubuntu 11.04 yet?
Yep, I'm typing this in 11.04 on my netbook.

ikt
April 4th, 2011, 12:15 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV-hSgL1R74

:frown:

fela
April 4th, 2011, 01:33 PM
Yep, I'm typing this in 11.04 on my netbook.

Imagine that interface on a desktop though....

NCLI
April 9th, 2011, 11:52 AM
Imagine that interface on a desktop though....
I don't have to imagine it, I used it on my two 24" 1080p monitors every day while I was in Denmark.

NightwishFan
April 9th, 2011, 05:28 PM
Anyway, just felt like sharing.
Git. ):P

juancarlospaco
April 9th, 2011, 06:14 PM
Dolphins and Whales on Japan sea do not agree i think...

retbak
April 9th, 2011, 06:20 PM
Would love to travel there when I can afford it

KL_72_TR
April 9th, 2011, 07:37 PM
The only bad thing I have to say is that there is no way to not get Windows, but I'll live.
Suffering has no end. The quakes, the tsunamis and the nuclear is not enough, now is obligatory an OS Copyrighted DRM... Poor people :-(

inobe
April 9th, 2011, 07:47 PM
The only bad thing I have to say is that there is no way to not get Windows, but I'll live.

1) purchase additional hard drive.

2) remove windows hard drive.

3) put windows hard drive in closet.

4) put new hard drive in computer.

5) install linux.

time to sell computer.

1) remove linux hard drive.

2) insert untouched windows hard drive.

3) sell computer.

repeat steps 1 through 5 on your next computer:p

KL_72_TR
April 9th, 2011, 08:03 PM
1) purchase additional hard drive.

2) remove windows hard drive.

3) put windows hard drive in closet.

4) put new hard drive in computer.

5) install linux.

time to sell computer.

1) remove linux hard drive.

2) insert untouched windows hard drive.

3) sell computer.

repeat steps 1 through 5 on your next computer:p
Haaa ha ha ha h.... This is funny but so true :-)

barthus
April 9th, 2011, 09:33 PM
I just spent five hours walking around central Tokyo(Akihabara), shopping for a new computer ...

I think you are talking about the district which is called 'Electronic Town', right? I have been there, too. Just great! :P

Japan and especially Tokyo is just ****** amazing! I love Japan and the people there. I feel very sorry for what has happened there.

uRock
April 9th, 2011, 09:48 PM
I don't have to imagine it, I used it on my two 24" 1080p monitors every day while I was in Denmark.
I like it, too.

Dolphins and Whales on Japan sea do not agree i think... They'll get over it.

linuxforartists
April 10th, 2011, 10:31 AM
I agree, Japan is amazing. I did a long trip through there in 2010. Despite living in Asia for 5 years and going all over the region, Japan is really a unique country.

The Travel Channel had a good documentary called "Tokyo Revealed" that's fun to watch. Goes behind the bamboo curtain to explain some cool things you might never know about. The whole thing used to be up on YouTube, but I just checked and it's not there anymore. You can probably download a torrent of it.

In case you're interested, here's my travel blog: Marcus Goes Global (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/). Since Japan was the last place I visited, all my stories from there are up top. I also wrote guidebook-style tips for some of the major cities, like Tokyo (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/2010/04/your-personal-tokyo.html) and Kyoto (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/2010/05/kyoto-temple-remix.html). Those tips are in a section called "Inside Information" at the end of my stories.

Have fun in Japan!

mips
April 10th, 2011, 11:03 AM
In case you're interested, here's my travel blog: Marcus Goes Global (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/). Since Japan was the last place I visited, all my stories from there are up top. I also wrote guidebook-style tips for some of the major cities, like Tokyo (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/2010/04/your-personal-tokyo.html) and Kyoto (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/2010/05/kyoto-temple-remix.html).

Thanks for posting that.

I don't read blogs much but your blog is AMAZING! It's well written, fun, informative and you get your experiences across very well and to boot you have great pics. I can see I'm gonna spend hours reading your blog.

madjr
April 10th, 2011, 03:44 PM
my brother keeps telling me that everything is more expensive in japan (at least compared to amazon?).

how much was your computer?

he has been there for a year (not in tokyo)

maybe he is not telling me the truth and doesnt want to ship me that new computer and console i want :confused:

NCLI
April 10th, 2011, 03:54 PM
Dolphins and Whales on Japan sea do not agree i think...
While I disagree with the decision to kill whales and dolphins, we're no better for imprisoning and killing one of the most intelligent creatures on this planet: Pigs.

Suffering has no end. The quakes, the tsunamis and the nuclear is not enough, now is obligatory an OS Copyrighted DRM... Poor people :-(
I know :(

1) purchase additional hard drive.

2) remove windows hard drive.

3) put windows hard drive in closet.

4) put new hard drive in computer.

5) install linux.

time to sell computer.

1) remove linux hard drive.

2) insert untouched windows hard drive.

3) sell computer.

repeat steps 1 through 5 on your next computer:p
One problem: It's an SSD.

I think you are talking about the district which is called 'Electronic Town', right? I have been there, too. Just great! :P

Japan and especially Tokyo is just ****** amazing! I love Japan and the people there. I feel very sorry for what has happened there.
Yep, it's the "Electric town." Though there is a lot more than electronics once you go to the upper floors of most buildings, but the CoC prevents me from elaborating further :p


I agree, Japan is amazing. I did a long trip through there in 2010. Despite living in Asia for 5 years and going all over the region, Japan is really a unique country.

The Travel Channel had a good documentary called "Tokyo Revealed" that's fun to watch. Goes behind the bamboo curtain to explain some cool things you might never know about. The whole thing used to be up on YouTube, but I just checked and it's not there anymore. You can probably download a torrent of it.

In case you're interested, here's my travel blog: Marcus Goes Global (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/). Since Japan was the last place I visited, all my stories from there are up top. I also wrote guidebook-style tips for some of the major cities, like Tokyo (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/2010/04/your-personal-tokyo.html) and Kyoto (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/2010/05/kyoto-temple-remix.html). Those tips are in a section called "Inside Information" at the end of my stories.

Have fun in Japan!
Thanks, and I'll definitely read that! I have a blog too, but I won't link it before it's a little more interesting. Also, since the card reader on my netbook seems to have died, I have to wait for my new laptop before uploading any pics.

my brother keeps telling me that everything is more expensive in japan (at least compared to amazon?).

how much was your computer?

he has been there for a year (not in tokyo)

maybe he is not telling me the truth and doesn't want to ship me that new computer and console i want :confused:
My computer was quite expensive, but cheap compared tom its specs. FACT: Japan only has a 5% tax on electronics, so it can't be very expensive no matter what country you compare it to.

linuxforartists
April 12th, 2011, 12:20 PM
Thanks, and I'll definitely read that! I have a blog too, but I won't link it before it's a little more interesting. Also, since the card reader on my netbook seems to have died, I have to wait for my new laptop before uploading any pics.

My computer was quite expensive, but cheap compared tom its specs. FACT: Japan only has a 5% tax on electronics, so it can't be very expensive no matter what country you compare it to.

Glad you'll read my blog. Don't worry, now that you're abroad, I'm sure you'll find tons of things to put on your blog. You'll soon have lots of stories and photos to share.

I agree with you about electronics. They're surprisingly cheap sometimes, considering how expensive everything else in Japan is. Secondhand goods can be really good bargains.

An Australian friend who's a translator there told me Japanese always need to have the latest gear. As soon as a new version comes out or if something gets scratched, they rush out and buy. Japanese also take good care of their possessions, so even secondhand products are in good condition.

A different friend, a Japanese guy, recommended this website for checking electronics prices: Kakaku.com (http://kakaku.com/). He said to use it to find the starting price, then you can negotiate a better price with sellers face-to-face. It's in Japanese, though. I confess that I used Google Translate. You can just paste in the link and it will translate the whole site. It worked well enough for me to browse the camera listings.

I was seriously tempted to buy a secondhand DSLR camera while I was in Japan. Some of the shops had attractively low prices.

By the way, if you have even the smallest interest in retro 1980's-style video games, I highly recommend visiting Super Potato (http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25827/Super+Potato.html) (English link). More tips like this in the "Inside Information" section of my Tokyo blog post (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/2010/04/your-personal-tokyo.html).

Have fun in Japan!

NCLI
April 12th, 2011, 03:42 PM
Glad you'll read my blog. Don't worry, now that you're abroad, I'm sure you'll find tons of things to put on your blog. You'll soon have lots of stories and photos to share.

I agree with you about electronics. They're surprisingly cheap sometimes, considering how expensive everything else in Japan is. Secondhand goods can be really good bargains.

An Australian friend who's a translator there told me Japanese always need to have the latest gear. As soon as a new version comes out or if something gets scratched, they rush out and buy. Japanese also take good care of their possessions, so even secondhand products are in good condition.

A different friend, a Japanese guy, recommended this website for checking electronics prices: Kakaku.com (http://kakaku.com/). He said to use it to find the starting price, then you can negotiate a better price with sellers face-to-face. It's in Japanese, though. I confess that I used Google Translate. You can just paste in the link and it will translate the whole site. It worked well enough for me to browse the camera listings.

I was seriously tempted to buy a secondhand DSLR camera while I was in Japan. Some of the shops had temptingly low prices.

By the way, if you have even the smallest interest in retro 1980's-style video games, I highly recommend visiting Super Potato (http://www.dannychoo.com/post/en/25827/Super+Potato.html) (English link). More tips like this in the "Inside Information" section of my Tokyo blog post (http://www.marcusgoesglobal.com/2010/04/your-personal-tokyo.html).

Have fun in Japan!

Thanks a lot, and I am :D