The 13-inch Macbook Pro Unibody

Apple has always been known as a company that charges a premium on superb design and outstanding engineering. But ever since the world depression hit, it is slowly losing its grip on the market. To remain competitive, they did a remarkable move by bumping-up hardware specs of their products while at the same time, lowering their prices. And because of this, we’ve seen a crossover we always wanted to have – an ultra portable MacBook Pro! This is one notable move that made the 13-inch Macbook one of the best contenders in its price range.

It is as portable and handy as a netbook, yet it packs a massive punch under its solid block of aluminium shell. This is the new 13-inch Mac Book Pro from Apple. This handsome laptop runs an Intel Core2Duo P8400 @ 2.26Ghz and 2GB DDR3 memory which open up programs and files saved in its 160GB SATA hard drive in a snap.

Physically, the 13-inch Macbook Pro resembles its bigger and more powerful siblings. It comes standard with a built-in SD card reader, Firewire800, DVI out, two USB slots, and audio in/out port -- all laid out ergonomically on one side. From now on, typing in the dark is a thing of the past thanks to its backlit full-size keyboard. The ambient light sensor beside the iSight camera detects low light and automatically turns on the keyboard lighting.

Some people may think that having an internal battery is an inconvenience, but with an estimated lifespan of 1000 charge cycles, the internal Lithium Polymer battery will last for at least three years even if you charge it every day.

The LED-backlit screen is just stunning! It spews out rich and vibrant colors with improved contrast and deeper blacks. One downside though is that its glossy screen surface increases the amount of reflection making the screen annoying to use in certain situations. The touchpad is a large multi-touch surface with no separate touchpad buttons which you can use to manipulate objects in the screen by using predefined finger gestures. Clicking action is through a clicker button under the touchpad, which allows the entire surface to be pressed.

And of course, a computer is only as good as the operating system it runs. Well, this comes shipped with, what Apple claims, to be the fastest, most efficient Mac OS ever, The Mac OSX Snow Leopard. Oh, and by the way, you can also install a Windows operating system on a Mac if you’re not comfortable with Snow Leopard yet.

With its simple interface and usability, it’s more than just a piece of engineered hardware; the 13-inch Macbook Pro is actually more like a work of art.

Sony Extends Help to Typhoon Victims

I haven't posted anything for a long time after Ondoy wreaked havoc on us. We still don't have internet connection since! Thank you Globe Broadband for the outstanding service (*sarcastimode off).

Well, here's good news from Avvy of Virtusio (Sony Philippines' PR firm) re all Sony products bought here:

Good day!

We would just like to tell you the good news!

In light of the recent calamities brought by the typhoons, Ondoy and Pepeng, Sony Philippines expands its services as they now also extend their Service Support Project to all Sony product users of in and out of warranty units.

For In-warranty covered units (from September 27 to November 30, 2009):

- Free labor, check-up and cleaning of all Sony products sold by Sony Phillippines, Inc.
- 40% discount on all parts charged (as quoted by the Sony Service Center)


For Out of warranty covered units (from November 3 to 30, 2009):

- 40% discount on labor, check-up and cleaning of all Sony products sold by Sony Phillippines, Inc.
- 20% discount on all parts charged (as quoted by the Sony Service Center)

Please see attached poster for more information. Thanks so much!

Again, this only applies to Sony products issued by Sony Philippines. No PS3s or PSPs. Sorry guys!

Crocodile Skin Laptops!

Sony has once again stunned its competitors with the release of the new premium line of VAIO portables called the Signature series. Basically, the Signature series laptops are upgraded versions of current models like the VAIO P and the T line of portables. We’re not really sure if there are people clamoring for animal-skin laptops, but Sony aims to fill that void by releasing a new portable computer with a croc skin finish – the Sony VAIO CS36GJ/J.

Targeted at sophisticated women and women-at-heart, this reptile of a laptop comes in two colors: red and pink. It’s powered by a Core2Duo P8700 running at an ample 2.53GHz which you can use for browsing the web, light photo and video editing, and everything in between. The pre-installed 64bit Windows Vista and 4GB out-of-the-box will surely boost all your online and offline chores. A three hundred and twenty gigabyte hard drive comes standard to save all your personal files and apps, and if space becomes limited, you can easily back it up using the 8x DVD writer.

If you wish to easily transfer files to and from your phones, cameras, or PSPs without the need for cables, it has a built-in Bluetooth 2.1 technology which complements the memory stick and SD card reader upfront. People on-the-go need not worry because it supports all the WiFi technologies for fast and reliable access to the internet. And with that reliable connection you can use the 1.3 megapixel web camera to chat with your friends or to even check if lipstick is stuck in between your teeth.

If your favorite pet is a crocodile, or if you never missed an episode of the Crocodile Hunter, the new Sony VAIO CS36GJ/J is a looker for P89,999. But if you’re not into fake animal skin, or simply want value for your money, don’t fret, you can buy the simpler-looking, non-croc version for P17,000 cheaper. All in all, it is a superb laptop with speedy hardware and tons of features; but honestly, I just don’t think the 17,000 peso premium for the fake leather is worth it.

The PS3 Slim: The Real Deal

The mysterious PS3 Slim is a mystery no more. Yesterday, Sony finally announced the existence of the shrunk version of the old PS3. Well, this confirms the rumors and the Philippine sighting of this beautiful slab of plastic and silicon -- at least we could all sleep peacefully for now.

New Slimmer and Lighter PlayStation(R)3 to Hit Worldwide Market This September

Lower Price to Further Accelerate Expansion of the PlayStation(R)3 Platform Along with Extensive Software Title Line-up for Upcoming Holiday Season

TOKYO, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today unveiled the new PlayStation®3 (CECH-2000A) (body color: charcoal black) computer entertainment system, featuring an extremely streamlined form factor with a 120GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD). The new PlayStation®3 (PS3®) system will become available in stores from September 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions at a very attractive recommended retail price (RRP) of US$299 and euro 299, respectively. The system will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 29,980 yen (including tax). With the introduction of the new PS3 system, SCE will also reduce the price of the current PS3 with 80GB HDD to a RRP of US$299 from August 18 and euro 299 from August 19. Also in North America, the price of PS3 with 160GB HDD will be reduced to a RRP of US$399 from August 18. By launching a vast library of exciting and attractive software titles for PS3 this holiday season and offering customers a line-up of hardware models and pricing to match their preference, SCE will build on the momentum and further accelerate the expansion of the PS3 platform.

The internal design architecture of the new PS3 system, from the main semiconductors and power supply unit to the cooling mechanism, has been completely redesigned, achieving a much slimmer and lighter body. Compared to the very first PS3 model with 60GB HDD, the internal volume as well as its thickness and weight are trimmed down to approximately two-thirds. Furthermore, power consumption is also cut to two-thirds, helping to reduce fan noise. While inheriting the sleek curved body design of the original model, the form factor of the new PS3 system features a new meticulous design with textured surface finish, giving an all new impression and a casual look. With the compact body and casual appearance, the newly introduced model will appeal to a wider audience who are looking to buy the best entertainment system for their home.

Concurrently with the release of the new PS3 system, SCE will modify the PS3 brand name from "PLAYSTATION 3" to "PlayStation 3", and introduce a new "PS3" logo, which is engraved on the surface of the new PS3 system. By unifying under the familiar "PlayStation®" name, which represents the entire PlayStation family, PS3 together with PlayStation®2 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) will further expand the PlayStation business, and will continue to enhance the entertainment experience along with the ever-growing PlayStation®Network.

The new PS3 continues to offer the cutting-edge features and functions of the current models, such as the ability to enjoy high-definition Blu-ray disc (BD) movies and games, as well as various content and services downloadable through the network. The new PS3's storage size has increased from 80GB to 120GB, and with the extra capacity users will be able to store more games, music, photos, videos as well as various content and services available through PlayStation Network. Having more than 27 million registered accounts around the world, PlayStation Network offers more than 15,000 pieces of digital content, ranging from game titles, trailers, and demos to more than 15,000 movies and TV shows via PlayStation Store(*1). PlayStation Network members can also download free applications, such as PlayStation Home, a ground-breaking 3D social gaming community available on PS3 that allows users to interact, communicate and share gaming experiences, as well as Life with PlayStation, which offers users various news and information on a TV monitor in the living room by connecting the PS3 to the network.

Since the launch of PS3 in November 2006, the number of BD-based titles has reached more than 1,000 titles and downloadable PS3 games to 1,400(*2) titles worldwide, with the support from a broad range of third party game developers and publishers. In addition to this extensive software title line-up, exciting and attractive new titles are to be released from SCE Worldwide Studios, including Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, EyePet, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, Heavy Rain, God of War 3, MAG, ModNation Racer, Gran Turismo 5 and more.

Other features of the new PS3 include:

PS3 system software update version 3.00

Concurrently with the release of new PS3, system software will be upgraded to version 3.00 on September 1. The update adds various user-friendly features such as the "What's New" screen, where users can quickly browse the new items available in PlayStation Store as well as their recently played games directly on the XMB(TM) (XrossMediaBar), with short cuts to each piece of content. PS3 will evolve continuously with the system software updates, further improving the operability and enhancing the user experience available through the network. PS3 owners will be able to enjoy new features by simply updating the PS3 system software to version 3.00 via the "System Update" function on the XMB(*3).

- BRAVIA(R) Sync(TM) Feature

The new PS3 system is also equipped with the BRAVIA(R) Sync(TM) feature. By connecting the new PS3 system and a BRAVIA TV with the HDMI cable, users are able to directly operate the XMB on PS3 using the TV remote
control. Other functions include "System Standby" that will automatically turn off the PS3 system when the BRAVIA TV is turned off(*4).

- "Vertical Stand" for new PS3 (CECH-2000 series)

By utilizing the separately sold "Vertical Stand", users will be able to set the new PS3 in vertical position(*5), making it easier to place the PS3 system anywhere at home. The vertical stand will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 2,000 yen (including tax) and in North America at US$24(*6).

- Removal of "Install Other OS" feature

The new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other

Operating Systems to the new PS3 system.

Along with a vast line-up of attractive and exciting entertainment content with the new PS3 system, SCE will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment.

• 1 Number as of end July 2009. Content within PlayStation Store will differ by region, please refer to the official PlayStation.com site for further details.
• 2 Includes PS one(R) classics and free of charge content (downloadable demos).
• 3 Users will need to connect their PS3 to the network to use the function.
• 4 Users will need to use BRAVIA TV that supports the BRAVIA Sync feature. For further information about BRAVIA Sync, please refer to the official Sony site in each region.
• 5 Users will need to use the separately sold "Vertical Stand" to set the new PS3 in vertical position.
• 6 Release date of the vertical stand for North America will be announced when available. Release date and price of the vertical stand for Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions will be announced when available.

Spec sheet:

• Product name: PlayStation 3
• Product code: CECH-2000A (Charcoal Black)
• CPU: Cell Broadband Engine™
• GPU: RSX
• Audio output: LPCM 7.1ch, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD, AAC.
• Memory: 256MB XDR Main RAM, 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
• Hard disk: 120GB 2.5" Serial ATA
• USB 2.0 ports: 2
• Networking: Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth 2.0 (+EDR)
• Controller: Wireless Controller (Bluetooth) x 1
• AV outputs: HDMI x 1, AV MULTI OUT x 1, Digital out (optical) x 1
• Resolutions: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i (for PAL 576p, 576i)
• BD / DVD / CD drive (read only): BD × 2 (BD-ROM), DVD × 8 (DVD-ROM), CD × 24 (CD-ROM)
• Power: AC 220 – 240, 50/60Hz
• Power consumption: Approx. 250W
• External dimensions (excluding maximum projecting part): Approx. 290 × 65 × 290 mm (width × height × length)
• Mass: Approx. 3.2kg
• Included in box: PlayStation 3 system × 1, Wireless Controller (DUALSHOCK 3) × 1, AC power cord × 1, AV cable × 1, USB cable × 1

Best thing about this is that it retails for only $300 or P15,000! Woah!

Ken Block is the Craziest Person I Want to Become!

Many don't know that I'm a big fan of the Subaru Impreza WRX STi. From wallpapers, pictures, manuals, CD catalogues, to model kits, Choro-Qs/Q-Steers, and 1:10 scale R/C bodies -- I've collected everything that I can get my hands on. Ever since college, I've been dreaming of driving (drove the 2008 Impreza Hatch and the 2009 WRX Sedan) owning one. But until that day comes, I'll drool over these for now.

Ken Block is a Subaru rally driver who is famous for his Gymkhanas and his precise drifting exhibitions. This guy is just awesome!

Block and his 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STi (530 WHP):

Block and his 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STi (566 WHP):

Oh, and in case you didn't notice -- he owns DC Shoes!

FHM Philippines July Cover Is the Most Original Ever! -- NOT!

Check this out guys, the July 2009 cover of FHM featuring Aubrey Miles is not quite original. As I watched the Hanging with the Boys episode with Aubrey, I realized that the concept of the cover has been done before. It got me to scour the files I've been keeping for some time now, and presto! -- Ms. Jessica Gomes on one of her famous photoshoots for Sports Illustrated.

Running out of ideas perhaps? Anyway, I leave the 'judging of the cover' to you. Hit the comment button and write down what you think.

Relive Man's First Step on the Moon

As a child, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut and an astronomer to travel through space and discover new worlds. I was a whiz when it comes to names of rockets, capsules, stars, moons, and planets but too bad the Philippines never had a space program (Did Marcos try to create one?).

This week marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11, the first mission to land people on the moon. It was so unfortunate that I was not born twenty years earlier to witness this historical landmark, but thanks to modern technology and the internet, we can all watch the mission as it happened forty years ago.

The JFK Presidential Library and Museum set-up a website to recreate the 'most significant' achievement of President John F. Kennedy. If you want to catch a glimpse of the location of the command module Columbia and the lunar lander Eagle at this moment, go to www.wechoosethemoon.org.

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too." - JFK

The Mystical PS3 Slim: A Black Market Sighting

Another first for the Philippines! A few months back, leaked photos surfaced from the alleged assembly plant of the PS3 Slim in China. Many speculated it was fake, but here's another 'evidence' of its existence -- the world famous footage of the new PS3 Slim being sold in the streets of Manila. Sony must be furious but there's nothing wrong with a little publicity right? Most people in the internet say the 'PS3 Slim' in the video is also fake -- probably another China-made DVD player or something. But who knows? This might be it.

Anyway, here's the original post of the person who took the video:

The Web site this originated from (UltimatePlayStation.com) has been shut down by Sony to kill any evidence of it's existence. However, they have not taken down the YouTube video (below) yet. Enjoy!

To quote: "I'm sorry the video is very short and very low quality, but my phone is ancient and the memory is very low, but I hope you believe me when I say this is in now way a fabrication."

The details are as follows, taken from the Web site now seized by Sony:

• It has a 120GB HDD.
• Two USB Ports
• The 'touch' button for eject and on seems to be gone, and there are now these random buttons.
• The PS icon is now white instead of colored.
• No more card reader
• PLAYSTATION 3 is gone, rather its PS3. It says this on the bottom as well for some reason.
• The guy was selling it with a DualShock 3. Whether it is compatible is another matter.
• The guy was selling it for 20,000 pesos, which is roughly £250, which is roughly $410

If there's any other information on this unit, let us only hope, someone will snatch it up and leak more info on it!!

Read more: http://www.ps3news.com/PlayStation-3/ps3-slim-console-surfaces-on-black-market-in-the-philippines/#ixzz0LOmxxBQx

The Sony Bravia WE5: Greener than your Usual HDTV

It’s an inconvenient truth that the world is losing resources quickly. Well, thanks to some manufacturing giants, eco-friendly devices are fast becoming a norm. One of which is Sony, and their WE5 line of flat panel televisions that aims to cut power consumption to up to 40% than that of current LCD TVs.

The Sony Bravia 40WE5 is a full-HD 40-incher that belongs to Sony’s line of eco-friendly and energy saving LCD TVs. We all know that the majority of the energy goes to lighting up the panel, so Sony developed a new kind of lighting called the Hot Cathode Florescent Lamp which uses 50% less electricity to produce the same amount of light. And with higher efficiency, translates to lesser number of bulbs – significantly lowering your electric bill!

This Sony WE5 HDTV features a Presence Sensor that uses heat and motion to constantly monitor if there’s a person in the room watching. If no one is present, it automatically turns-off the backlight but the sound remain; and if no one comes back for a longer period of time, it puts itself into standby mode. Also, it has an Ambient Light Sensor which adjusts the brightness of the picture according to the brightness of the room. If you choose not use it for a long time, a power saving switch completely cuts energy consumption to zero.

Despite the eco-friendly features packed into this set, picture quality is uncompromised. The Sony Bravia 3 engine delivers vibrant colors, crisp visuals, and stunning clarity to HD and SD programs alike and the Motionflow 120Hz eliminates ‘LCD ghosting’ during fast-moving games and action scenes. It also promises to deliver a 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, but compared to other sets with the common CCFL bulb, the WE5’s blacks aren’t black enough. But on the brighter side, there are no backlight inconsistencies throughout the panel.

The Sony Bravia KDL-40WE5 is an awesome product that combines earth-friendly features with great performance. And for P139,999 for the 40-inch model, it will definitely pay for itself in energy savings.

Oh and did I mention that it comes in a box made from recycled paper? Yep. Cool.

The Samsung S3500 Mobile Phone

While developed and released to be a mid entry-level mobile phone, the Samsung S3500 is not your typical cheap-looking budget phone. This quad-band GPRS and EDGE-capable phone hides quite a number of tricks up its sleeve including a 2Megapixel camera, a music player, and FM radio.

Reminiscent of the more expensive Samsung U900 Soul, it tries to present itself favorably with the slide interface and brushed aluminum fascia. It is solidly built with no hint of wobbling or squeaks on the slide mechanism.

It has a 2-megapixel camera on the top part of the phone which has superb panorama, mosaic, burst modes together with the night shooting mode to compensate for its lack of flash. The S3500 comes standard with a microSD slot for up to 8GB of storage for images, videos, or music. The music player can sort songs by artist, album or genre and even keeps track of the most played songs.

Although it doesn’t come with a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, it can wirelessly stream your tunes to your Bluetooth-capable headphones or car head unit. FM radio and music player can be easily controlled with the D-pad. JAVA apps and games are supported but unfortunately, all games included in the package are all demos.

The Samsung S3500 is a looker on a budget. Though it's nothing original nor cutting-edge, it can count on some of that Soul or the Nokia 6500 slide charisma. The camera performance is nothing special either, but the music player and FM radio perform well. If they just added 3G capability like the oher phones in its price range, then this is definitely a steal at P6,500.

Stop Globe's Unfair Traffic Shaping Practices: Sign the Petition Now!

Ladies and gents, please sign the petition to stop this non-sense. Don't let Globe dictate what you should do with your connection -- if you're paying for 1Mbps, it's your right to use that for whatever reason it may be. Please sign even if you're not a subscriber of Globe so that other ISPs can see that we are united, as a country, to uphold Net Neutrality.

Sign the petition here.

Globe Broadband Limits P2P Speed to 20kbps!

Thousands of Globe subscribers are experiencing significant problems downloading from peer-to-peer networks including bit torrent. I am also a subscriber of Globe Broadband and from my normal D/L speed of 110kBps, I now only get around 15kBps.

From forums around the net, I read that plan 1Mbps is throttled at 20kBps, and plan 2Mbps, is at 40kBps (they use an advanced traffic-shaping hardware to do this). Others speculate that Globe will apply throttling if you reach your download cap -- 20GB a month.

Nobody from Globe has confirmed nor denied this crappy new system that they are implementing, so I hope this is only temporary. If this turns out to be a permanent BS, I'll surely look for a better ISP the soonest.

Please hit the comment button and share your story.

UPDATE: This is a scan of the contract of new subscribers. Looks like this will be permanent :(



UPDATE 2: Good news people! We can now bypass Globe's BS by using this as BT client. Enjoy! LINK

UPDATE 3: Still no word from Globe. And bad news, Thunder doesn't always work on all torrents. Tried using it using public trackers like TPB or TorrentBox, download doesn't even start. I'll experiment some more.

Mac vs. PC -- Let's Get It On!

From time immemorial, Microsoft and Apple are throwing, uhm, apples at each other through advertising campaigns. The following are the latest ads from the two.

Here's one from Apple in response to Microsoft's Laptop Hunters:



And here are others from Microsoft:

The Nikon D5000: The New Entry Level DSLR King?

It seems that Nikon has again unveiled a new entry-level DSLR which was meant to replace the D40 but with features that are almost at par with mid-level digital SLR cameras. It boasts of video recording at 720p, and features similar to the highly regarded Nikon D90 (11AF Points!!!). Now that this DSLR is official (already posted in the CDSC website), let's take a look at its specs:

•New 2.7-in. 230k-dot Vari-angle monitor swings down approximately 90° and rotates 180°

•Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with 12.3 effective megapixels and Integrated Dust Reduction System

•Specially designed EXPEED image processing system

•One-touch access to Live View, which includes face priority AF and subject tracking AF

•D-SLR movie function: D-Movie, selectable from 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or 1,280 x 720 pixels in AVI format

•19 Scene Modes that automatically adjust exposure, image processing, Active D-Lighting and other settings for superior image quality

•Scene Recognition System, utilizing 420-pixel RGB sensor, improves autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance performance and is also integrated with the Face Detection System

•Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast environments

•Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module featuring 11 AF points provides fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame

•Picture Control System offers Portrait and Landscape options for more vibrant customized colors

•Extensive palette of in-camera Retouch Menus including several new retouch options such as Soft Filter and Color Outline

•Incredibly low-noise performance throughout a wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200; can be set to ISO 100 and ISO 6400 equivalents

•Viewfinder with approx. 95% frame coverage and an easy-to-view 17.9 mm eyepoint (at -1.0 m^-1)

•Up to 4 fps continuous shooting

•Built-in pop-up flash with Nikon's original i-TTL flash control

•Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module featuring 11 AF points provides fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame

•Highly efficient energy-saving design that allows approx. 510 images on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and flash fired at full power once every other shot.)

•Compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output

•Included Nikon ViewNX software makes browsing and organizing your images easy

•Optional photo-editing software Capture NX 2 allows quick and easy photo editing

•Lightweight compact body

The SRP is expected to be between the D60 and the D90 at around Php40,000 for the kit which includes an 18-55mm VR lens. Not bad for a feature-packed DSLR!

Here are the pics:

Hackintosh Update

If you want to run iWork 09 or iLife 09 (I heard iLife 09 kicks butt!), you need the newest version of Leopard. I found out that iDeneb v1.4 (OSX 10.5.6) is out, so I'll try that out in the coming days and update the post below.

Hackintosh Experience (Running Mac OSX Leopard on an ordinary PC)

This is how to install the *best* OS in the world on a PC. If you're interested in doing so, you can just take note of the hardware I bought, go to Gilmore, and build your own Mac.

Getting the Software Needed

1. iDeneb v1.3 Leopard 10.5.5 (Google it!)
2. The DS3L Kit (contains all drivers needed for the DS3L series)
3. Kext Helper (already included in the package above)

Hardware List

1. Motherboard: Gigabyte EP35-DS3L - P5,200The most important component of your Hack Pro is the motherboard. Many onboard features may not work under OSX if your motherboard is not supported.
After months of researching, I finally found the best board for this project -- the Gigabyte EP35-DS3L motherboard which is based on the Intel P35 + ICH9 Chipset. I got this for around P5,200 (~ $110), which is quite expensive for a year-old PC component. This board is pretty good if you're into overclocking and basic computer/gaming use. It has all-solid capacitors (capacitors bulge or leak over time, but these don't), 3 PCI slots for maximum upgradability, and an 8-channel Intel HD audio with optical/SPDIF output!

2. Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 2.5GHz - P3,800

Based on the 45nm manufacturing process, this dual core processor runs faster, cooler, and yields much higher overclock than normal manufacturing processes. I got mine running at 3.2GHz @ stock voltage.

3. Memory: Team Xtreem Dark DDR2 800 2Gb (2x1GB) Dual Channel Kit - P1,900I got this kit because of its overclocking capabilities, but if you're not into it, budget DDR2 800MHz RAMs will do.

4. Video Card: Palit GeForce 9800GT 512MB Dual Heatpipe - P6,400
This graphics chip fully supports Quartz Extreme in Leopard. if you're a gamer, this card is a must! If not, you can do with at least a 9500GT card.

5. Hard Drive: Any size. Just make sure it's SATA because you need to enable AHCI in the BIOS.

6. Any SATA DVD Drive

7. Any USB Keyboard and Mouse

8. A USB thumb drive to store all the drivers you downloaded earlier.

Installation
1. Download all the files above, burn iDeneb into a DVD (burn as image not as data), and save the unzipped DS3L Kit into your USB stick.
2. Go to the DS3L bios (press delete at the start-up screen), look for "Integrated Peripherals" and make sure the SATA Mode is set to AHCI. Also, under "Power Management", from S3 set it to S1, then press F10 and select yes and restart.
3. While at the start-up screen, press end to choose a boot device. Choose your DVD drive and wait for the iDeneb disc to boot.
4. Once asked by Darwin (Mac's version of DOS), boot the DVD in verbose mode by typing "-v" (without the ")
5. Wait for it to boot, select your language, then go to utilities, then disk utility.
6. Go to the "Erase" Tab, select your hard drive on the left, and format it to Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Wait for it to finish, then exit Disk Utility.
7. Now you're back to welcome screen. Click continue, select agree, then select the hard drive you wish to install OSX in, after that, click continue.
8. Click the customize button, then deselect everything except for the following: X11, Under FIX/SMBIOS, choose SMBIOS 800, under applications, choose all.
9. Install Leopard and wait for it to reboot.
10. After reboot, fix all the necessary components that don't work by using Kext Helper (already installed in the applications folder) and the drivers you downloaded earlier which you saved in the USB stick.
11. Enjoy your new Hack Pro! :)

Note: The DS3L board is a very popular Hackintosh board and if you get lost somewhere, I'm sure you can easily find the solution using Google. I hold no responsibility if your machine goes up in smoke (which is very unlikely to happen)!

Lexus Manila Now Open!

Last January 14, Toyota Motor Philippines unveiled its new brand in the luxury automotive segment in the Philippines. Lexus has been around for 20 years and it has already captured the hearts of fan boys and earned much respect in the industry. This year will be a tough one for everyone (US recession, plummeting stocks, etc.) but Toyota is still keeping its hopes up by expanding its product line here in our country. Come and visit the Lexus show room in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig to get a glimpse of their cars. While your at it, don't forget check out the awesome Lexus GS460!