I thought Michael's unbalancing act is because he dropped his M11X last time? I remember that happened and everybody groaned for his carelessness.

Just got back from Akihabara, and at Yodobashi Akiba, I got myself this:-



Works like a charm with my Viliv, and I'd foresee it working just on well on my M11X as a USB-powered external Blu-ray drive.

RM1020.

It's a BD writer, not just a reader.



A Google Translate of the product info BRP-UP6:-



Got mine for Y29,800.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Apr 10 2010, 10:30 PM

I can confirm the previous external BD-Writer works beautifully with the M11X. the included Cyberlink PowerDVD 8 that comes with the M11X has BD playback capability, and it plays my most recent BD, "2012" perfectly. And it runs only on USB power.

Anyone who wants me to help them get this external BD drive, I'll see when I'm going to Tokyo again. The model is IOData BRP-UP6.

The fact of the matter is, if you know what you're putting into your computer, YOU YOURSELF is the antivirus, you are the filter, and yes, you don't need an antivirus software if all your sources are legit.

But just look at the last few pages in here, from people asking for cracked versions of an app, to "who buys Blu-rays, just download them" mentality, how on Earth would you legitimise and make sure these "sources" are not compromised? I would figure if anyone here is so BOLD to claim that you don't need antivirus programs, they're sticking to approved, safe and clean sources, then yes, I would agree that you don't need antiviruses. The question here is, is everyone here sticking to the clean sources or not?

So please, get off your high horses and stop thinking that you're immune. A simple rogue keylogging software embedded after you've "visited" your favourite Megaupload/Rapidshare/etc site on your supposedly safe Alienware ,while you're "supposedly" safe and going about your business buying stuff online, or purchasing games through Steam can easily compromise things later, from something that as mildly annoying as "slowing down your computer" or as devastating as identity theft/CC fraud.

Bottom line is, you wanna be antivirus-less, watch where you're surfing and downloading/installing stuff into your Alienware. Question is, with the laidback, "who cares where I get these files as long as I got them" attitude/mentality I see around here, is anyone practising safe netiquette like how you're practising safe sex these days, or is all this lip service?

I think the turning point to talking about antivirus here is when some claim BOLDLY that you dont need one. I don't see them being careful with their internet activities and their download patterns, otherwise I would agree that antiviruses are not necessary.

My M15X has ZERO antivirus app now, but I ran it SPECIFICALLY just for games, and patches and downloads are done from trusted sources. It ran without a hitch right to this moment. If you can deal with it this way, then yes, skip the AV. The moment you dabble with cracked .exe files, patches from unknown sources and the likes, you're like leaving your front door open with no locks on.

I'd like to think that my fellow Alienware owners are in a league of their own, and since we invest so much in our hardware, some up to 5 figure numbers, you'd care about it more, and think of a more sophisticated and higher level than the general mentality of those who invested in the more "entry level" brands. Specifically when it comes to procuring your softwares and applications. There is a certain class, and expectations expected upon an Alienware owner when he joins the club, and that includes elevating your mentality beyond petty downloads and torrents. After all, your hardware/machines are of a higher calibre, but your thinking is still of the lower level? It's like giving a kapchai rider a Ferrari, he'll trash that exotic car in no time because his mentality is to ride his kapchai hard without regard to the wellbeing of his kapchai, even when he is given a Ferrari, he'll still bring that same old mentality into that Ferrari. C'mon fellas, be a classier group of people, you are after all, holding one of the most powerful laptop computers "in the universe" *as claimed by Alienware*. Act appropriately as according to the class of equipments you hold in your hands lah.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Apr 12 2010, 06:41 PM

Then what is separating Alienware from the rest, if the mentality around here mirrors the cheapos at Acer or Benq? Owning an Alienware is like buying a relatively expensive car, the car does not run on its own without feeding proper fuel and good maintainance. If you did not account the cost of these things into your calculations before buying that car, then you will end up eating bread and maggi. Funny thing here is, you want to own an Alienware, but you cant afford the "fuel" that keep your Alienware alive? Just like how some people bought BMWs or higher end cars but buy cheap petrols from shady sources because they just want to be seen driving those cars. Does that mean you just want to be seen using an Alienware, without the right attitude that comes with owning one?

My point here is, both the right attitude and ownership of an Alienware comes hand in hand. Time to elevate yourself to a better class of thinking. You don't have to gobble everything in sight just because you want. Have a sense of conscience, right and wrong when you're about to do so. You just got yourself a better hardware, it's time to match that hardware with the right attitude.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Apr 12 2010, 07:07 PM

So using that analogy, if I get a free BMW or a nice high end cellphone, Im supposed to get free petrol for the car, or free talktime for the phone?

The most common rebuttal I get. Read what emino said. Your don't have to be rich to use your laptop with other alternatives.

Even if Im well-to-do, I still draw the line when it comes to stealing. Wants and needs as well. If I need something, I still save up, and get it purchased within the boundary of the law. If I want something, I'll still budget myself extra hard to get it, but but no matter how much I wanted it, it dies not exclude me from being subjected to the rules and regulations. A.k.a not stealing it. The problem with Malaysians is that they treat their "want" as a need. Games ate not a need, they're a "want". Software that does not jeopardize or affect your cari makan job, is not a "need", it's a want. The reason why people here treat everything as something they need is because they can get away with it. You're not stealing a BMW because you know you'll get on trouble with the law if you do. Stealing apps, software and/or games is harmless to you because there are no repercussions. The moment you see the end-result of stealing; ie fined/jailed, then you'll start adjusting your moral compass on what's right and wrong.

What's even funnier here is the irony that sone of you can afford the highest end laptops, some even proudly posting pictures of m11/15/17X or all three in fact, but don't even give a damn to match that level of material possession with the same enthusiasm when it cones to your digital belongings(your apps, games, software). You're lavish on your hardware purchase but can't even buy an RM100+ game? There's something wrong with picture isn't it?

In the end, the point of the matter is, there's no excuse for pirating. If a student like Nokia can discipline himself with his purchases to stay within the boundary of the law, why not others?

Okay then Azurika, I guess you won't mind if I don't pay a single sen playing your future produced games since you basically okayed it, set by your example.

So am I correct to assume that other people get to enjoy their cracked games because ori buyers like me help keep the game developers alive while they continue playing their pirated copies? If that is so, the least these pirates can do is be thankful that users like me allow them to enjoy their games because I keep their game devs alive. But what I see here is that, not only they are not grateful that their opportunity to game was "partly" sponsored by legit users like me, they even mock and scorn me for supporting ori by saying "Why buy ori when you can download?" or "Why buy Blu-Ray when you can download 1080p MKVs?". The least that these downloaders can do is show sone humility and gratefulness rather than act like they are in here.

Your fortunate opportunities of being able to play games rest on the shoulders of legitimate gamers who spent their hard-earned money supporting their game studios alive so that they continue producing future good games. As a leechers/downloader, what are your contributions to keep the gaming scene alive? These games don't produce themselves, last I check. Personally, I'd be embarassed to rely on someone else or mooching off them, I'd rather be independent and make sure my dollars go to the people who deserves it: the people who make these games/software. The very least I can say is I have done my part keeping the gaming scene alive for my future enjoyment. What have you done today?

Funny, last I check, I pay my games to show my support for the people who make them. I didn't realize there are others "cybersquatting" on my contributions. Tak malu kah?

Initially I wanted to post my findings on the different Blu-Ray playback softwares like ArcSoft's TMT3, Cyberlink PowerDVD 10 and Intervideo WinDVD BD version, but realize it's gonna encourage people to pirate them instead of getting legit copies.

Cut things short: the Intervideo WinDVD version that comes with the IOData external drive I bought in Tokyo isn't that good. Jerky playback when skipping to chapters on the BD. PowerDVD is better, and thankfully it's included with the M11X, so everyone don't have to pirate it. PowerDVD 10 is better though, with multiple codec support including RMVB and M2TS containers.

Those balls are called Cool Ball, can be found at all Machines branches. There are three different kinds, one with heat-activated adhesive, velcro and velcro with screw-on. Get the one with the heat-activated adhesive, no sticky residue and I used it on my MBA nicely. Cheap and cheerful at RM39. The metal Cool Balls are a bit more expensive at RM45.

See? Even if we do disagree, no reason for me to not help others when they are in need. Or ignore anyone for that matter.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Apr 13 2010, 12:05 AM

You, my fellow Alienware user, have my respect. Salute!

If only those feets, you need to go for Ace Hardware or Ikea at the Hardware section to look for adhesive part that you stick at the bottom of the table legs.

There is no such thing as too slippery for a mouse. You'd want the surface between your mouse and the mouse pad to be of little friction as possible, so that you dont tire yourself exerting too much energy moving on friction surfaces. It may feel weird, but advantageous at higher competitive level.

Then those rubber feets at those places I mentioned should do the trick.

No picture?