Old Computers Reboot with Open Source #1

Sometimes, it is personal question whether or not getting the old computers working worth your time and money. Majority people nowadays no longer care and will throw away without hesitations. They prefer buying new PC or laptop since it is so affordable and more new features with faster technology.

Old computers may be slow and worthless. But for me, it stills got the value and can help to reduced spending on certain new technology. This is where open source comes in. The only problems are in Brunei, not many of them including companies are interested even if it’s a free license. The presence of Microsoft marketing here are so strong so it going to be long for locals start interest using open source.

I personally slowly migrating and learning how to use open source especially Linux. To be honest, I do not see the reason keep sticking Windows when they going to release new operating system estimate every two years. I no longer can afford to buy new license and devices to keep up with Microsoft products. If it weren’t I am a gamer, I would have already with Linux long time. Nonetheless, the introduction of the Steam OS is going to be new future alternative gaming operating system and I am looking forward to that.

Deploying Linux operating system does indeed a bit tricky. This is why I need to find out which is the best for older PC builds. There are simply too many versions of Linux distros on the internet so I normally go for the popular version like Linux Mint. Ubuntu is out of question because I last used was left unimpressed with huge performance impact. I thought Linux Mint is better but encounter some startup lagging and displaying crash issues with my setup using Intel Pentium 4 1.8GHz (Socket 478), EPOX EP-P4MKI mATX, 1GB Kingston DDR memory ram kit (2x512MB), Western Digital 80GB IDE HDD and Nvidia Geforce 2 MX 64MB AGP graphic.

It does work pretty OK and some TV series are watchable. I decided to try much more lightweight version of Linux using Lubuntu. The next installation will include minor upgrade in the hardware after I found some more parts left cleaning my cabinets. The CPU will be replacing to Intel P4 2.4GHz and slightly faster Nvidia Geforce 4 so that it can run better and manage to run most nowadays media format.

Brunei Hobby Con 2014

Seems like I was late for this local competition next month that going to held in BSB. I rarely nowadays access to Facebook and spending more time to looking for lab kits online for my further studies training. For those local who didn’t join the Gunpla group in FB, you can get the form from Chong Hock or Half Half and the submission fee is BND$25.00.

Is Jobless Getting Improved or Become Worst?

No matter how much I read the newspapers saying how many jobs will be created and efforts organizing job fairs every few months by the Government. We still received news about increasing jobless in the country. People usually blame the private sectors paying unattractive salaries and complains about working hours. However, from what I have watching this whole time is no longer the main issues for both jobless and job seekers are facing. I believe the new issues are the local company’s struggle keeping its business alive instead

Of course there are rarely such claims or mentioning from the local news. It doesn’t mean never happen. I know the new policy was meant to help the SME so that they can hire more locals during their growth. Also this is to prevent alibaba business continue as well. The governments even go extends call on every private sectors should keep the requirement percentage hiring more locals in order to stay in business. I’m sure many of you think this is thumb up work from Government. But we fail to see the implementation actually causes problems to existing companies.

I can tell many foreign Oil & Gas companies are very cautions nowadays on the policy and if one company got too much tenders in the past records then they no longer gets the next time and must be awarded to others or SME. This control basically a huge blow to some existing international (or joint venture) Oil & Gas Company. A few entirely closes its door last year and other manage to get small contracts to sustain itself until end of this year. At the same time letting nearly 70% both locals and foreigners employees go for budgeting control. Those few who are lucky got offer to work internationally and majority will have to look for new jobs.

Salary cut or no rise also happen to be recently. One of my friends is among one of the employees facing salary cut soon by the local company and told to sign a new contract. Without any proper official explanation reason behind of such actions, I advise him not to sign no matter what happen and photocopy the contracts (if not provide) for review before deciding the next move. I understand his frustration because the management didn’t honor their words in the interview. Sometimes, running a business does have to made harsh and mean decision. But without clear explanation and straight on forcing employees to sign new contract are just wrong.

This is rather somewhat very concern issues how the Government going to handle the situations. I don’t really see improvement but more like take it and go scenario. One newly establishes company last year now facing terrible challenge and as many heard by now losing a lot of money maintaining the project due to lack of local engineers or technicians expertise in the field. Many of them switch jobs because of the pressures and escape the messy work environments. There is one simple reason that leads to such disastrous. They cannot simply hire foreigners and must be locals before involving the projects. I hate to admit. We locals are still far behind, requiring a lot of time to get experiences and training to catch up with the international standards.

AMX- 107R Rebawoo (Full Frontal Use)

Finally it’s done! When I first received the Rebawoo kit, my thought was going to be easy to build. Sorry to say this is not true. The worst are the plastic parts came from Bandai factory were somewhat fragile even easily broken and morel like bootleg. I’m not sure how many those who brought it affected but I was among one of the unlucky buyer received two out of three have such problem. There goes the Bandai premium quality. The good one will be kept as antique and the second will be kit bashing later until I got more ideas.

There are a lot of hard sanding work involve during my time spending on certain parts. This is why I say not easy. I believe the paintings are the most challenging when it comes to Sleeves crests. I never fond of it because of this kind of issue, I decided to play it simple and change the way it going to look.

The decals also took me the whole final day of patience and carefully applied on each area using the picture short story note book from the ‘One of Seventy Two’ as reference. I am glad that 70% of the Bandai 1/144 Sinanju decal is usable for Rebawoo. Of course modelers who are more creative than me can apply even better.

Anyway, this is my final work for straight build. The additional work done to the kits are adding Kotobukiya detail option parts, Model Kit World bazooka and Hobby Japan Gundam Seed upgrade parts. I actually over look the upgrade parts results which turned out weird looking thin leg. As a lesson, I will rectify it on my next Rebawoo bashing build.

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