The Singapore Air Show is here again. Went to the Singapore Airshow 2010 twice this year, as has been the case for the past couple of rounds - once during the trade day on Wednesday where there are fewer people, and once with the family during the public day on Saturday when the crowds arrive in full force.
Here are some photos - the whole set of photos has been uploaded into my Google Picasaweb photo gallery (trade day) (public day) :
Besides the usual F-35 Lightning II mockup from Lockheed Martin (still waiting for the real one to arrive here), the Apache AH-64D Longbow attack helicopter, the F-15's and the F-16's, a new addition this year was the F-111 fighter-bomber, said to be making its last appearance ever :
Here's a video of an F-16 Falcon in the flying display :
Singapore should consider using nuclear power and depend less on foreign workers in its efforts to transform the economy in the next decade, a government-appointed panel said. The recommendations have been accepted by the government and will be addressed in the budget to be unveiled on 22 Feb 2010. Singapore is seeking ways to ensure its economy expands in a more sustained manner after three recessions in the past decade, with its most recent slump the deepest since independence in 1965. The panel announced 7 proposals to restructure the economy. They include making the city state a hub for global companies seeking to expand in Asia, improving energy security and being more flexible in land usage. The committee urged the government to study using nuclear energy as a future source of power and the import of coal and electricity. It also recommended the creation of a "waterfront city" on existing port facilities run by PSA International in the south of the island when the lease expires in 2027. The panel recommends that the government develop an "underground master plan" to create more space as there may be limits to how much land it can reclaim.
The Economic Strategies Committee (ESC) on Monday [1 Feb 2010] gave extensive recommendations to ensure energy sustainability and the full optimisation of Singapore's land space, given the island-state's limited resources. Among the plans is a new waterfront city at Tanjong Pagar, currently a port area comprising Keppel and Pulau Brani. Besides land constraints, Singapore also faces energy resource constraints. The committee suggested that Singapore study the feasibility of using nuclear energy in the long term, an idea which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2008 said he "hasn't ruled out". The ESC said the option could help meet base load electricity demand as well as Singapore's energy security in the long run. In the medium term, the committee suggested Singapore should explore coal and electricity imports to diversify its energy sources. Importing energy will also free up valuable land in the country.
- This is the clearest confirmation yet by the Singapore government on its plans for nuclear power, which I have been advocating since at least 2006 (see my feedback to the government during the National Climate Change Strategy consultation). Until this pronouncement, all prior communications had been vague, along the lines of "we are not ruling it out". Of course the "coffeeshop talk" folks would murmur that once the Singapore government even so much hints at any new initiative even in vague terms, it has already been decided upon and WILL be implemented rapidly and efficiently, without so much as a peep from the rest of the people. Perhaps. But I shall leave the political pontifications to those so inclined.
Myself, I am glad that the Singapore government has decided to take a bold move towards embracing nuclear energy. As I have been saying all along, and now as the government panel itself has also said, what we need is baseload power, and with current technology we have about two choices - nuclear and coal. What *is* a little unfortunate, though, from my point of view, is that the government seems to be choosing *both* nuclear *and* coal. Now I'm sure that as a Kyoto signatory, Singapore probably wouldn't be going out building conventional dirty coal power plants willy-nilly. Or at least, we environmental activists surely hope not. The hope is that they will at least try to adopt some form of clean coal system. And while I have some reservations (some rather big reservations) about clean coal, if it is at all technologically feasible, you can trust the Singapore government to try to pull it off. Well. Like they say : you win some, you lose some.
A mixed congratulations then to Singapore. +10 points for embracing nuclear power, -5 points for considering coal at the same time. To be fair, I have tracking both initiatives coming on the horizon, plus the one about the LNG terminal, so all this is hardly much of a surprise. So keep posted, as we shall track how the execution goes on these plans.
Day 3 was "Going Back Day". We started off with a wrap-up of the conference with Koh See Kiat giving a short overview of the ST Electronics Infosoft corporate structure, after which we took a group photo. Thanks to automatic face recognition technology from Google Picasaweb, you can click on the link below and check out the names. But thanks to my being not very good with names, many of the names are not yet properly tagged - any help from the audience would be appreciated :)
After the conference it was time to check out and the first group to get ready for the return flight home. Here I am at the lobby of the Duxton Hotel Saigon, bags all packed and ready.
Back to Tan Son Nhat International Airport, looking out of the terminal windows at SQ173, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200. That's our ride back to Singapore from Ho Chi Minh City.
James Wong, a colleague from ST Infosoft, from the Land Information Systems department. We've got representatives from all 3 departments in the classic triumvirate of "Air, Land and Sea" on this trip.
And that's it. It was a good trip. We had a good time, and got to meet up with our partners and vendors from the various companies including Ingram Micro, IBM and Symantec, and we also got the opportunity to get to know better our colleagues from the other departments within ST Electronics Infosoft.
I feel like I am one.. I'd only managed to go home "early" for the first 2 weeks of Jan-2010.. thereafter, i'm back to my grueling schedule, ie reach home when the kids are fast asleep.. meaning, after 9pm or later.. and once i'm home, silently i try to eat my dinner.. tip toe-ing around ken/wenn's room to check on Ken's homework if any, check his wallet if still have $, check his school bag, check any communication from teacher, mark the work that i give him to do.. normally i give 2 pages of chinese, eng, maths.. most of the time, he finishes 1 subject only.. *sigh*.. day in day out, such mad rush.. :(.. when can i take a break?
Day 2 was the conference proper, but before that my room-mate Chan Yue and I went about taking some photos out on the street in the block surrounding the hotel.
As could be expected, at present Vietnam is still very much motorcycle/scooter country. Like some of my peakoiler friends might say, just wait till they really start buying cars. The country is still very much in development, with contrasting styles of new ultra-modern buildings rising up right alongside the existing buildings, such as this example here :
The conference itself - there's myself and Chan Yue, with the IBM folks giving the initial round of presentations.
This was followed by a "Mini Amazing Race" team-building exercise, which also served as a good way to explore the city.
A couple of games the team played :
A couple more landmarks - the Notre Dame Cathedral and Independence Palace. In the nearby park and surrounding areas, workers were getting ready putting the finishing touches for the upcoming Vietnamese New Year 2010 celebrations.
Over at Ban Thay Market, we bought some souvenirs, and met members of other teams.
And just before dinner, Chan Yue and I went for some Vietnamese "pho", which is some kind of noodle-like strips in nice flavored soup - I tried the chicken pho.
Dinner itself was a river cruise on a restaurant-boat going up and down the Saigon River, an historic and important part of Ho Chi Minh City, serving as water supply, Saigon Port and tourist attraction all in one.
During the cruise, Vincent Lee of IBM Singapore entertained us with his keyboard renditions. And this one here is an interesting stone-based xylophone instrument thing :
Day 1 of the trip was pretty much free and easy. For business continuity reasons, we were divided into 2 groups - I was with the morning group.
One of the very first impressions you get upon arrival at a country would be immigration, and it went through pretty smoothly. The officer who attended to me entered my particulars really quickly - he must have been clocking 80 wpm or better, banging away at the keyboard.
On the way to the hotel from the international airport, just snapped some street scenes.
Interesting architectural features include the pagodas dotting the cityscape.
The Opera House is one of the distinguished landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City.
After arriving at the Duxton Hotel Saigon, I just did my setup and proceeded to start blogging as described here. Next item was just to wait till the second group arrived in the evening, then it was time for something apparently rather unique to Vietnam, a "water puppet show" complete with dinner. Here are a couple of short video clips on that :
What is karma? Why do we chant to the Gohonzon? Where is karma created?
Karma is in the subconscious, specifically in the unconscious part of the subconscious. The subconscious is all our dormant potential. Happiness and unhappiness arise from there. All our images of life are collected there. It is a broad and expansive place. All our past is packed in there, everything. All the images from our previous lives are stored there; all our experiences, feelings, and sounds, everything. They are in our life and in our brain cells.
Everything from the moment you were born; from when you were in the womb even, all the sounds such as your mother singing, and experiences around you are images stored in the unconscious part of your subconscious. This also includes the images stored by your ancestors 1000s of years ago, these images and experiences are carried into yourself. It is your inheritance. It continues on into your offspring etc. These images become your life and they are what you are now experiencing. For example if you tend to get into car accidents you can naturally assume that your ancestors were prone to accidents as well. Likewise if you experience longevity, many of your ancestors also experienced longevity or if illness runs in your family, this will probably occur in your life. This is family karma and it is stored in your subconscious. Because of the connectedness of you and your family, you share this karma with them. When you chant to the Gohonzon you are changing not just your karma, but your whole family s karma at the same time. When one person changes their whole family can change.
Because you carry these images, you carry the same problems; illness, the way you die, poor finances, bad relationships etc. Unless you change these images, they persist in your life and in that of your offspring.
These images come out even if you aren t conscious of them. You are not deciding, but the unconscious image is in control; who you meet, what you do, when you die, if you get sick, etc. These are all results of the images you carry. All these unconscious images have led you to where you are right now. The scientific community is just starting to recognize this. Your unconscious images are your karma.
The right side of the brain has a huge impact on how we alter these images. Appreciation has a huge impact on how we alter that image. Using the words "Thank You" has an enormous impact on changing karma. The right side of the brain is happy to hear the words "Thank You" and responds accordingly. The words Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo in Indian Sanskrit are Namu Sada Ruma Fundareka Sotalon (this is the phonetic spelling) and are translated as "Thank You So Much!"
So then what is the correct way to pray? It is not "Please let this happen to me". It is not begging and not asking for anything. But because we are saying "thank you so much" whenever we recite Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, we should always be chanting with appreciation. Our minds/emotions need to match our words. The most basic human feeling or emotion is gratitude. It is first emotion we learn as an infant. Beyond the subconscious and unconscious is a very joyful life condition or world.
When we use the right side of our brain it is much easier to chant. We find that we can chant longer using the imagination side of our brain. Never say please when chanting. So many other religious practices teach asking for help etc, not Nichiren Buddhism.
You have to appreciate everything in your life, including everything from your past. You need to make a conscious effort to recall as much as you can from your past and appreciate it. Even the things that you don t think you can appreciate you have to find gratitude for them. Then you have to appreciate your current circumstances as well, even if you are in the midst of a huge obstacle, such as cancer, financial ruin, a divorce, whatever the situation; you still have to appreciate it. You have to thank Gohonzon (your life) for giving you this problem, because this is your chance to change negative karma to fortune.
What is the correct way to chant when you have a problem? You have to chant with the spirit of "Thank you so much for giving me this problem. Because of this I can change my negative karma and that of my family s." Pray sincerely from the bottom of your heart to appreciate your present circumstances. Because of this you can disconnect or alter your family karma; you break it and begin to project a new image. You should also set a specific date that you will no longer have this problem.
Dr. Kawada treated fourteen people with stage four cancer. Some were not even SGI members. Their doctors had given up on all of them. One even had to be brought in on a stretcher. All fourteen people joined the SGI. They all learned to chant following this guidance of using the right side of their brain to project an image of no cancer in their bodies. In the US last stage cancer patients are encouraged to draw a white cell eating a cancer cell. Though this has shown to help, practicing Buddhism has an even bigger impact. In two months the person on the stretcher overcame their cancer. Then his doctor joined. Eventually all fourteen overcame their cancer.
You can change any illness, even allergies and skin rashes, etc. If you are an abusive relationship, you can create a new and positive image and it will change the relationship, because you are connected to that person even on a subconscious level. Your unconsciousness is linked to another s unconsciousness. It doesn t matter if they chant or not, they will change. Who ever you have a problem with; you need to chant for them to help them change their unconscious image. You have to work on it over and over and eventually your image will be projected by them as well. This is really the truth. You can impact the images for your entire family. You have to use the right side of your brain to do this. That is the purpose and the function of the right side of the brain, so use it.
You should write a diary. Not a diary of what happened to you today, but how you want your life to unfold for the next 10, 20, 30 years etc. If you do, your life will change. You can literally write your own destiny.
Just reached the Duxton Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where a group of 10-20 folks from ST and Ingram Micro are having a sponsored retreat on Cloud Computing over the weekend. Here are some initial photos from today. Here I was at the departure gate at Changi Airport T2 :
Inside the airplane cabin of the twin-engine Boeing 777-200 :
Arrived at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport :
A church :
My hotel room :
Wasted no time setting up the equipment, up and blogging within 5-10 minutes of arrival :
The rest of the initial set of photos has been uploaded to my Picasaweb album here.
Japan Airlines (JAL) filed for the country's fourth-largest bankruptcy under a 900 billion yen ($10 billion) turnaround plan after four government bailouts failed to revive Asia's most indebted carrier. Asia's largest airline will shed staff, cut unprofitable routes and retire older planes as it restructures. The airline, worth more than $6 billion as recently as March 2009, will be delisted following the bankruptcy, wiping out shareholders. JAL, which flew at least 45 million passengers last year, will continue operations. Kazuo Inamori, the 77-year-old Kyocera founder, has been named to oversee JAL's restructuring as CEO. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have made rival offers to invest in JAL or a restructured company to access routes in China and Japan.
JAL, Asia's first major flag carrier to seek bankruptcy, filled less than 65% of seats on domestic routes in each of the last 6 fiscal years. The airline suffered a 16th straight drop in overall passenger numbers in Nov 2009 as the global recession sapped travel. Worldwide international air travel likely fell 4.1% last year, causing industrywide losses of $11 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association.
- You could have pointed your finger at various factors like lack of management judgment, prolonged government support, rising oil prices, the global economy, or the unfolding trend of Peak Oil, Peak Airlines. There are plenty of reasons to choose from. But well, that was it. Now to see how they fare after the turnaround plan.
Toyota plans to double its global production of hybrid vehicles in about two years, positioning such fuel-sipping cars as a core profit earner. The automaker recently notified parts suppliers that it intends to roll out about 800,000 hybrids domestically in 2010, with the figure to be raised to around 900,000 in 2011 and 1.1 million in 2012, the Nikkei reported. Toyota's 2009 hybrid vehicle output was estimated to be around 500,000.
Toyota also plans to sell an additional 10 new hybrid models from minivans, subcompacts to luxury cars within a few years, on top of its current lineups such as the 2010 Toyota Prius, Sai and Lexus HS250h. The world's biggest automaker now makes about 90% of its hybrid vehicles at home in Japan. In 2011, hybrids will likely account for about 30% of all vehicles that Toyota manufactures in Japan, up from the projected figure of about 20% for 2009, the Nikkei said. The petrol-electric Toyota Prius hybrid car was the best-selling car in Japan in 2009, becoming the first hybrid to top the annual rankings, with sales almost tripled from the previous year.
- In spite of the global recession, it looks like Toyota is on a roll with its hybrid line-up. And these plans are not new. The Asians including the Japanese and Chinese are reputed for long-term thinking. Back in 2005, Toyota announced plans to go to an all-hybrid vehicle model line-up. And this paragraph quotes from a 2006 entry : "Toyota Motor said that it would double the number of hybrid models it offers to 14 by the early years of the next decade as part of its effort to meet higher demand for fuel-efficient vehicles". I'll be looking out for Toyota to continue to execute on its plans to bring the next generation of lithium-ion powered hybrid, plug-in and EV technology to the rest of its line-up.
The Euro declined the most in almost a month against the US dollar on concern Greece's struggles to reduce its budget deficit will damage confidence in the region. The EUR/USD forex exchange rate fell as much as 0.8%, the biggest decline since 17 Dec 2009. Oil prices fell for a fifth day, the longest losing streak in five weeks, leading declines in commodities prices. ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet's warning that no member nation can expect "special treatment" fueled concern Greece's debt won't be eligible as collateral at the central bank. Rating downgrades sparked a rout in Greece's bonds in Dec 2009 as the budget deficit headed for 12.7% of GDP, more than 4 times the European Union limit.
Feb 2010 NYMEX crude futures fell to $78.95. The S&P GSCI Index of commodities fell for a fifth day, the longest losing streak in a month. Corn declined 0.9% to $3.7775 a bushel in Chicago trading. Wheat and soybeans also declined. Copper fell 0.5 percent to $7,455.50 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange, leading a drop in industrial metals.
- It looks like we could be headed for a slight pause in the commodities rally powered by crude oil and gold prices coming into the beginning of 2010, or at least a consolidation situation in the commodities markets before the next directional movement can be discerned. The threat of a China slowdown with the central bank starting to make noises about tightening credit and reining in the runaway property boom does not help the bullish case very much either. Hence I am now looking once again at support levels with that for crude oil prices being around the $75 level and for gold prices it is around the $1100 level, with the advice being to watch for either support holding or breaking down below these levels.
Troubled Japan Airlines (JAL) is expected to cut 15,600 jobs, or about 30% cent of its group workforce, in 3 years under a rehabilitation plan. The layoffs, coupled with cuts in benefits and wages, will be carried out together with the sale of JAL's subsidiaries including JAL Hotels Co., Kyodo News reported. The carrier's workforce will be trimmed to about 36,000 by the business year to March 2013. The state-backed Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp. (ETIC) plans to decide on its bailout package for JAL as early as January 19, the same time the airline is expected to file for bankruptcy protection. The ETIC estimated JAL's consolidated operating loss to expand to about 265 billion yen for the current business year to March 2010, compared with a year-earlier loss of 51 billion yen, due to a drop in passenger numbers.
- Like the GM bankruptcy case, the long decline of Japan Airlines has been noted by outside observers for a long time (see earlier posts dated Feb 2006 and Aug 2006). Traditional airlines have been finding it rather difficult in challenging business conditions in recent years, with increasingly volatile oil prices and a global recession. The rising competition from budget airlines didn't help either. Airlines like JAL and their like will need to revamp and re-invent themselves in order to stay relevant in the economic environment ahread.
Japan Airlines (JAL)
is set to file for bankruptcy on 19 Jan 2010, the first step in a
court-led rehabilitation process for the debt-ridden Japanese carrier.
The decision came as its creditor banks dropped their earlier proposal
for an out-of-court reorganisation of the troubled airline. The
state-backed Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corp will provide 300
billion yen (US$3.2 billion) investment so that it can continue
operation.
The government body will also ask JAL's creditors to waive a
further 350 billion yen in loans to the airline, while speeding up its
restructuring, including massive trimming of its international routes.
The carrier is seeking its fourth government bailout since 2001. The
airline, which lost about US$1.5 billion in the 6 months to Sep 2009,
has said it plans thousands of job cuts and a drastic reduction in routes.
- The airline industry is an obvious case of hyper-sensitivity to oil prices, and with crude oil futures rising and breaking through the $80 resistance level,
the peakoiler community has been rumbling about airlines hurting again.
In any case, if (/when) oil prices rise further, JAL's case may not be
the last we hear about airline bankruptcies either.
Am so proud of Ken today.. we parents get to see the kids go to the canteen to buy food and eat.. I saw Ken just walked to the canteen table, placed his water bottle.. and then, proceed to buy food.. the buddy with him is from P2.. i see the buddy followed behind Ken and didn't really help Ken.. but Ken proceed to buy food himself and eat.. And, he also drink from his water bottle while eating.. i've reminded him not to buy drinks from school.. ahh.. with his new uniform and all.. he's so smart and cool.. well, a real milestone for him.. a new beginning.. let's hope his high spirit will remain throughout his education life and future..
Can't believe how fast time flies that tomorrow, Ken will attend Primary 1 in Singapore.. seems like yesterday that i was struggling with him as my first born baby.. and now, he's all ready for Primary 1.. oh, I'm so NOT ready.. how am I able to supervise his work? His school is morning session. He is encouraged to be in school by 7:15am for silent reading. Their assembly will be at 7:25am.. that means, we have to leave our house before 7:00am.. and Ken has to wake up at 6:00am.. Those of you who know me well enough will wonder.. how will I wake up?!?!.. i'm such a sleeping beauty.. only my mom can wake me up that early!..
To be able to wake up early also means that Ken needs to sleep by 9:00pm.. For the past months, I reached home earliest at 8pm.. looks like i have to adjust.. my work performance will definitely affected.. already, for ken's first day in school, I'm taking 3 days leave to accompany him, whereas, my colleague from my team with her child starting P1 as well, only taking HALF day leave.. go figure.. *sigh*.. this is a dilemma for working moms, i guess..
Below, 6 and a half years ago, we welcome Ken to the world.. arggh.. time really goes by in a blink of an eye..
Commodities prices posted the biggest annual gain in four decades, led by a doubling in copper, sugar and lead prices, as Chinese demand compensated for the longest slump in the global economy since World War II. In 2009, the S&P GSCI Index of 24 raw materials rose 50%, the most since at least 1971, and commodities drew record investment of $60 billion, Barclays Capital estimated.
The CRB Index of 19 raw materials advanced 23% in 2009, the most since 1979. Among industrial metals, lead posted the biggest gain, more than quadrupling since end-1999. Copper also doubled in 2009, climbing almost fourfold in the decade. In 2009, gold futures in New York rose 24%, the 9th straight annual gain. The US dollar slump spurred demand for precious metals as an alternative investment. Crude oil prices advanced 78% in 2009. OPEC, which accounts for 40% of global supply, implemented production cuts in response to the global economic recession. Sugar futures more than doubled in 2009, trailing only copper's advance in the CRB index. Cane harvests in Brazil and India, the biggest producers, were hurt by adverse weather.
- It has been pretty good going for commodities prices ranging from gold futures to crude oil to agricultural commodites such as corn and wheat and sugar. It's been a great run even taking into account the Aug-Sep 2008 near global economic collapse. And of course taking into account how the economic system works, governments everywhere do not have much choice but to run the money printing presses, and fast. Which has led us to where we are today, with price inflation looming, the trillions in additional money supply having had the time to work through the economy and finally start appearing where most people least expect, and with economic fundamentals being nowhere near where they should be had this been a real, actual, bona fide economic recovery.
So, what's next? Believe it or not, the inflation vs deflation debate still rages on, though there are some signs that the inflation camp may just get their day in the sun, as long as the central banks especially those in the Western world keep up their monetization thing going, and the Eastern nations continue to follow suit, not wanting to hurt their export-oriented economies. According to the contrarian community and elsewhere, there is a danger of "something" happening in Q2 2010, what it is exactly, and what the impact may be, we have yet to see. Barring that, and of course perhaps a black swan event or two, we could have continuing rising prices alongside with asset inflation going into 2010. We shall see.
my lao phng you got married.. the last in my circle.. we went back all the way from being classmates since Std 2..
Come to think of it, not many events actually.. and a lot of decade event.. work, met up with old friend and wedding.. for the whole of 2009 i just remember working very hard at work.. spending hours and hours.. fortunately, i'm rewarded with a good grade, not the best though.. but, a least compensated somewhat.. Looking at my slogan for 2009, "A Year of Thrift and Kids", i think i did accomplish them.. towards the later half of the year, i try to date Ken and Wenn out every Fri.. so, i'd been leaving office on time on Fridays.. reach home, take my dinner, and then I will be off to Compasspoint with Ken and Wenn.. i know it's not that healthy.. but we will browse the shops and end up having supper before heading home.. and, I've been doing quite well at NOT shopping for toys.. good discipline in me and the kids.. the kids didn't pester me to buy them toys.. they are contented just browsing the toys at the shops.. So, i guess overall I did live up to my 2009 slogan..
Which brings me to think, what should my slogan for 2010 be? Seriously, I'm so busy in 2009 that my life just whirl by in a haze.. so, in 2010, my slogan should be, "Stay Calm and Level-Headed".. the kancheong spider in me is taking a toll in the quality of my life.. i find i'm so stress out throughout 2009.. for 2010, i want to take a different approach.. I know with Ken starting P1 and with me clueless of the expectation, and not to mention I have to adjust my schedule, ie wake up earlier, reach home earlier so i can guide ken with his homework, etc.. i need to stay calm.. i can already imagine myself being stress out and lashing my temper on people around me, esp EM.. it will not be a pretty year.. and also to be level-headed.. i'm such an emo person.. hence, VERY temperamental.. i wish i can improve on this as well..
So, one year from now, i will re-visit this post of mine and see how much I've accomplish..
Lastly, here's wishing all my dear readers.. "May 2010 be a year of happiness and good fortune." (good fortune in buddhist term here means blessings)
I mean, what is it with Lenovo. Went down to Sim Lim Square and asked a couple of retailers and both of them confirmed that the Lenovo S12 Ion-powered netbook is not going to be imported into Singapore. What is Lenovo thinking, not wanting to make money or something? I didn't see the equally Ion-powered Samsung N510 as well, and the retailers had no clue on that one either. So one might think, okay, perhaps if Lenovo doesn't want to make money, so be it, but Samsung too? That cannot be. That would be unbelievable.
Found a couple of links talking about this. We seem to be suffering from the same problem that our American friends endured during the introduction of the Canon SX1IS Powershot : manufacturers dividing the global market into arbitrary zones and making arbitrary decisions on product introduction, perhaps afraid that it might cannibalize their sales in another area, or maybe it's a case of over-inventory of one type of product, fears of over market segmentation - or something. Hence, out of 3 possible netbook models with the Nvidia Ion graphics chipset, over in Singapore we're just left with the HP Mini 311, with which I have a few issues with the design, colour and keyboard layout (nothing really wrong, it's just a matter of personal preferences). Not so much of a choice, is there?
Well, of course I'm voting with my dollars. If it's not exactly what I'm looking for, I don't buy it. Heck, I have enough computers at home already that it is becoming something of a management issue with all the regular security patches, application updates, backups, stuff like that. Sure I can wait, hold out, and save my dollars for better things. Or perhaps it's just early days yet and we'll see what transpires in the local Nvidia Ion netbook market as we head from 2009 into 2010. We'll see.
So, I found a shop that caters to both very different palette of Ken and Wenn.. the former loves western, the latter loves asian.. it's hard i tell ya..
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