I passed by Geant tonight since it’s become a habit for me to pass by every weekend and see what their current offer is. This weekend they are selling the 32inch Samsung LCD for KD99. Actually you pay KD147 but you get a KD48 voucher to use in Geant and a scratch and win card. On my way out I spotted a few people with Sony 32inch LCD’s in their carts so I asked one guy how much is was for and he said KD149 but you get a KD29 voucher back. The TV I want still costs over KD800 sadly…

I am a huge fan of XBMC which I believe is the best media playing software out there. I first started using it on my original xbox, then I installed it on the AppleTV and now I just moved over onto the Acer AspireRevo. XBMC on AppleTV was great except for the fact it couldn’t play 720p and 1080p videos.

Two weeks back I found an article on Gizmodo about how XBMC installed on an AspireRevo could handle 720p and 1080p video files with great ease and best of all it cost only $199. So after failing to find one for sale in Kuwait I placed an order for one on Amazon and got it via Aramex.

Installing XBMC was super easy and after I set it up I copied all my settings from my AppleTV and started experimenting. I can’t believe how easily this thing plays HD files! I have trouble playing HD files on my Apple G5 yet this little thing which is slightly smaller than an AppleTV can play it without a hitch. It has HDMI out, its small, its super silent and streams HD movies from my server with great ease, I love it.

I ordered a remote control for it but it hasn’t arrived yet so I am using my browser or iPhone to control it. Shipping with Aramex cost me KD18, no tax since computers no longer get taxed.

If you want to get one here is the [Amazon Link]
If you don’t know what XBMC is click [Here]
Here is a guide to install XBMC on the Revo [Link]

Update: This is the remote control I bought for it [Amazon Link]

I was at Geant supermarket at 360 Mall and noticed they had a really good deal on a Compaq netbook (among other things). If you’re interested hurry up because I noticed these two guys filled up two carts with these netbooks, probably to sell them again at a higher price in Hawalli.

Update: If you don’t know what a netbook is click [here], they’re basically like laptops except smaller.

Update2: The same laptop as above costs KD95 on Amazon without tax or shipping to Kuwait so it’s a great deal [Link]

I needed some small speakers for my desktop computer which I use every now and then when I want to copy mp3s to my iPod. The computer has a tiny built in speaker but its too weak and you can barely hear anything so I wanted some affordable external speakers I could connect to it so I could hear some of the songs before I move them to my iPod. After some research I ended up getting the Logitech X-230.

The X-230 is made up of two small speakers and a sub that fits under the desk. I read a lot of positive feedback on them online and a friend of mine who has the smaller X-210 told me his speakers sounded really good so I imagined the the larger X-230 sounded even better. They did.

I am currently sitting on my desktop computer typing this post while I am listening to some music coming out of the speakers. Its really hard to believe these speakers cost me only KD15. The sound is pretty balanced and there is some proper bass being pumped out by the sub although it gets a bit boomy every now and then but hey, they are KD15 speakers. Everything is sounding pretty good coming out of these speakers and for the price I paid I think they are a steal.

So if you’re looking for speakers I would highly recommend the Logitech X-230. You can get them from the local Logitech website for KD14 with delivery but I ended up getting them from Hawalli for KD15.

It seems there is a local Logitech website where you can purchase Logitech products and have them delivered to you the very next day. The coolest part has to be their prices, from what I checked their prices either were slightly more expensive than Amazon or slightly cheaper.

Logitech Harmony One Advanced Universal Remote
Amazon: KD55.500
Logitech Kuwait: KD49.950

Logitech Illuminated Keyboard
Amazon: KD19.500
Logitech Kuwait: KD26.950

Logitech QuickCam Sphere
Amazon: KD31.850
Logitech Kuwait: KD36.450

Logitech X-140 Speakers
Amazon: KD8.850
Logitech Kuwait: KD8.450

Here is the link to the website. [Link]

Thanks Cajie

Has anyone purchased the tiny Vaio P netbook yet? They’re selling on Amazon for around KD260. Its more expensive than the regular netbooks costing around twice as much but it’s also less than half the size.

Just a blast from the past. I used to play this game back in 1991 in my computer class when I was still in Kuwait English School. In the video above the game actually starts at the 2 minute mark. [YouTube]

A few years ago I got an Audrey from eBay. It’s an “internet appliance” that was originally launched back in 2000 by 3com. It has a 7.8inch touch screen, a wireless keyboard and basic internet functions like web browsing and email. I lost interest in it awhile back until I found use for it yesterday night. It’s now officially become my kitchen computer. Basically I will be using it for finding recipes online and browsing the web while I wait for my food to be done. I think the keyboard is even waterproof so I am not too worried about it getting dirty. If anyone wants one there is a guy selling an Audrey on eBay, bidding is currently at KD8 but I doubt it would go for more than KD15. [Link]

Kuwait ranked 31st in the world in computer ownership. Doesn’t sound that bad until you realize Estonia, Slovania Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Latvia scored higher than Kuwait. Not that I have anything against those countries mind you! [Link]

Update: I just purchased the ebook version of The Pocket World in Figures 2008 and here are some interesting facts I found related to Kuwait…

- Kuwait ranks second in lowest death rate per capita. UAE is first, Qatar is third.

- Kuwait ranks 20th in most deaths in road accidents, I used to think we were first?

- Kuwait ranks 2nd in most injured in road accidents, Qatar is first with more than 3 times the amount!

- Kuwait ranks 3rd in death by diabetes, UAE is first, Saudi is second.

- Kuwait ranks 2nd in largest amount of carbon dioxide emissions per person. UAE is first.

- Kuwait ranks 4th in “Proportion of a country’s population residing in a single city”. That city being Kuwait City which doesn’t make sense since not many people live in Kuwait City.

- Kuwait ranks 3rd in Least economically dependent on agriculture. I don’t know if thats a good thing, I doubt.

- Kuwait ranks 1st in Largest consumption of energy per head (oil). UAE is second, the US is 5th.

- Finally, Kuwait ranks 5th in most crowded road networks. Qatar is first, Hong Kong second and Germany third.

You can now pre-order the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros from Amazon. They don’t have a shipping date but its usually first come first serve.

Apple MacBook 2.1ghz (White) KD267.63

Apple MacBook 2.0ghz KD346.66
Apple MacBook 2.4ghz KD427.03

Apple MacBook Air 1.6ghz KD480.61
Apple MacBook Air 1.86ghz KD668.14

Apple MacBook Pro 2.4ghz KD534.19
Apple MacBook Pro 2.53ghz KD668.14

So the new MacBook’s are out and I want one. Problem is every time I get the first release of a laptop from Apple I get screwed. With my iBook I ended up with the infamous logic board problem, with my MacBook I ended up with the discolored palm rest followed by a logic board problem. So thats twice in a row, which is why I am hesitant. [Link]

I am not a big fan of Eureka Electronics but this deal is just incredible not to mention. Eureka currently have a special offer on the Acer Aspire One and they are selling them for only KD59. Thats super cheap, thats cheaper than Amazon cheap. The Acer Aspire One is an ultra portable notebook computer that competes directly with the Asus Eee and MSI Wind. The KD59 deal is on the Acer with the following specs: Intel Atom 1.6ghz, 512MB RAM, 8GB HD and comes with Linux pre-installed. No idea on how many they have in stock but if you want one I am presuming you need to move fast.

Thanks Cajie

I installed Mac OS X on my MSI Wind today and its running perfectly! The installation went very smooth and everything is working fine including the wifi, webcam, bluetooth, ethernet port and sound. I really didn’t think OS X would run so well on the Wind, I love it! I am actually so happy with the Wind now I am going to be selling my Asus Eee 900. I tried installing OS X on it today also but it was running really slow so I just went ahead and installed the dreadful Windows XP. Its running much better but I prefer OS X over XP any day so thats why I am going to be sell it. I will be losing money on it since the price of it has dropped since I got it but since I got the MSI Wind for free I don’t mind. The thing is I really don’t have the need for two ultra portables in my life and the fact that the Wind is running OS X means I will always choose it over my Asus.

If anyone is interested in installing OS X on the Wind all you need to get it working right is a Dell wifi card. I purchased the Dell 1490 from eBay for $15 with shipping.

Update: My Asus Eee 900 is now listed for sale in the forum [Link]

I took my MSI Wind to Munich with me as my travel laptop and it turned out to be a really practical alternative to lugging my MacBook around. Its much more lighter than my MacBook and its also thinner and smaller so it fit easily into my small carry on travel bag and it also wasn’t a pain to carry around. My biggest problem with the Wind is the fact that it runs Windows XP which I hate.

That problem is going to get solved very soon though. It turns out I can install Apple’s Mac OS X onto it which is what I am going to be doing very soon. I ordered a new Dell wifi card from eBay for $15 with shipping to replace the standard one that comes with the MSI Wind. The Dell wifi card works with OSX while the standard card doesn’t. I am also going to be upgrading the battery to a 6-cell which will make it last twice as long. Finally I am going to be upgrading the RAM from 1GB to 2GB, not because I really need to but because it costs only KD7 to do. I am now just waiting for the wifi card to arrive in the mail and once it does I will do the install and post my feedback on how the MSI Wind runs with OSX.

Earlier in the month I posted about how Carrefour started carrying the MSI Wind. Well I got a call a few days back from the MSI Wind dealer who wanted to give me an MSI Wind to keep and review for the blog. Of course I said YES and today I went and picked it up. I had three colors to choose from, the black, white and the pink and I decided to go for the black which I hadn’t seen before. Once I got back home and opened the box I was glad I went with black because it looks really great.

I’ve only had a few minutes to play with the Wind and so far I really like the size. When I had the 12inch iBook I hoped Apple would release a 10inch version but instead they ended up releasing the 13inch which although is great is pretty big to carry around. 10inch seems to be the right size for a portable laptop. Originally I had regretted getting the Eee when I found out about the Wind but now I have both which is perfect! I am going to Munich later this week so the MSI Wind came at a perfect time since I will be able to take it with me and try it out as a travel laptop. I am also interested to see how long the battery is going to last since it uses the new Intel Atom chip.

If anyone has any thing they want to know about the Wind or something you want me to compare to the Asus Eee 900 please leave your question in the comments below. A user in the forum was able to install Mac OS X on the Wind so thats something I will probably attempt to do once I get back from Munich.

According to the dealer the MSI Wind is sold at Alghanim, Electrozan, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket and Bin Khaldoun street for KD185. Actually it might be a bit cheaper at Bin Khaldoun street.

Update: I soooo hate Windows XP, how do you guys use it!

Update2: If you need to contact the dealer their number is 810810