Bing Shows Fall; I Imagine Winter

It was a rainy Saturday afternoon which is almost a given on our October long weekend.  It is dark at 4:00 PM.  In many ways, it looked like winter here.  So what better to do than cross my fingers and try to install Win 11 on the primary home computer!

I did a fresh install on our non-compliant, old travel laptop, on Tuesday, the day the new version of MS Windows was released to the public.  The process proved entirely painless and I have sort of grown to like the pared-down taskbar and general peppiness of the newer operating system.

 

Therefore, today, I went to the Microsoft site and downloaded the Windows 11 Installation Assistant.  Who knows when the Windows Update process would have finally gotten around to upgrading me!  Getting 'up to speed' didn't take long.  Everything seemed to correctly come along for the ride.  After I finish this post, I'll delete the 35 Gb of files in the SSD windows.old folder.

After a Few Months of Use ...

This is the 'all-in-one' Win10 machine that came back to Canada in our luggage. The Acer Z24 has proven to be a fine replacement for the old, now-retired laptop.  It generally sits on our table but will be easy to move when we find the need.

I remember with faint nostalgia the PCs I've owned over the years.  Those big, beige boxes have all but disappeared from the world.  Now, I see the term 'modern PC' used to help categorize those old devices as historical. 

This svelte model makes a fine tool for life in 2020.  However, I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the days when owning a computer was branded a bit nerdier.

Nowadays, there's hardly a thing one needs to do for maintenance as Win10 has become pretty self-sufficient.  Once in a while, I open up the control panel or Windows settings just to make myself a little feel more in control.

Self Isolating for Two Weeks

Getting back into Canada seems like it occurred days ago, although it's been almost 24 hours to the minute. Often flights from SE Asia come into YVR at night, so getting in before noon seemed unusual. We were able to accomplish so much yesterday afternoon and evening, or so it seems. Unpacking was a breeze.

The new computer arrived safely in my luggage. It sort of takes up too much room on the dining table, but we use just a part for food on normal days. Having Windows 10 completely set up from our time in Malaysia is nice. Everything is a go and I just ordered a few things on amazon.ca. I sure do like Timothy's Rainforest Espresso k-cups. The 30-cup packages were on sale for $CA 12 each, so I got two. Saturday delivery? Sure, why not. It's not like we have any place to go.

We will be sticking around the apartment for two weeks. Will it be nerve-wracking or a relaxing time? Time will tell. These rules are for folks, like us, as we arrived in Canada during these times of rapid COVID-19 transmission. Interestingly, there are far more per capita cases of virus infection here than in the places we've been staying for the last five months. Life seems far from normal anywhere in the world right now, I guess.

My New PC and Our Old Travel Notebook

Day 111 - Maybe I needn't have bothered buying new eye glasses a few weeks ago. I just needed to get a bigger computer!

Today, Jay and I went to pick up a new all-in-one computer. I did a lot of online research and learned I'd save quite a lot by buying equipment here and then taking it home in the spring. Some of the money saved went into procuring better specs. Windows 10 seems to love having 32 GB of RAM. Also, booting from an SSD is something quite necessary nowadays too.

I bought the Acer Aspire Z 24 online through Tech Hypermart as they had great reviews and a copious selection. The main outlet is just a little storefront down in Puchong. We'd never really been to the area which is around halfway to the airport. We took the SP LRT from the Majid Jemak Station and rode for around 40 minutes south. Our tickets were US $1.03 each.







The process was simple. I'd already paid by credit card, so the staff un-boxed and showed me the specs through the 'Windows System Information'. Another sales girl printed the receipt and we were ready to roll back to downtown KL.

However, the box was a little big, so I summoned a Grab ride-share. It took us nearly as long to return. Although there were fewer stops than the train, traffic and a few traffic lights slowed us down. Still, all kinds of transportation seems cheap in Malaysia. We came more than 20 or 25 kilometers for less than US $7. Okay, I guess getting around was even cheaper in Sri Lanka.

Yay! I love setting up a new computer. I'm typing on it now as getting up to speed is easier than ever with today's software.

Sunday Morning Shopping

Day 108 - Although the free bus to Bukit Bintang wouldn't have cost a thing, I requested a rideshare Grab car. It seemed worth RM 7 (US $1.69) to quickly and easily go over to the famous, enormous electronics mall.


My goal was to see if I could find the phone repair shop, I'd learned about on Google. I had contacted Cell Care via WhatsApp and in a conversation, they said they'd change my OnePlus 6 battery for RM 85. My phone is a couple of years old. I'm thankful for the Dash quick charging as my battery runs down in 4 or 5 hours now; whereas, it used to go a whole day when new. This phone is sealed and I could tell the guy didn't really want to go through the hassle. If he was so quick to give up the potential business, I knew it'd be best if I didn't let him do the work.

The mall has many storeys, but we didn't make it past the second floor. There really can be too much of a good thing! The only other goal inside was to find an Acer computer dealer, so I could check out an Aspire Z 24 All-in-One in person. I already ordered one via an online store yesterday and wanted to confirm I'd made the right choice. Wow! They look pretty gargantuan because I've been writing on a tiny 13.3" notebook screen since last November. I think I'm going to like having all those HD pixels.



It was nice to be out on a beautiful Sunday morning. There are areas on the other side of Bukit Ananas which we don't see as often. Central Kuala Lumpur is not really that big. A hill makes it seem further to that area than it really is. One needs to get around the green hill of Bukit Nanas.



We did take the purple line back to 'our' side of the city. After the quiet area near Low Yat Plaza, it seemed jam-packed. Our side was full of ex-pat workers, mostly from Nepal and Bangladesh. They were off from work and were buying things to send home. I love Sundays because this part of downtown is teeming with such activity.

A Two-Foot Screen?

Day 103 - Today, I went out to see the electronic malls that were close to the Masjid Jemak area. Most have switched from full-on computers and electronics to selling mostly mobile phone related accessories. I do need to change the battery in my OnePlus 6 as it's getting on in years. I wasn't too serious about having it changed today. So, it looks as if I'm going to have to go over to the famous Low Yat Plaza, if I'm serious about shopping for equipment here.



When we left Vancouver at the beginning of November, I'd already decided it would be time to pick up a new home laptop when returning. The little travel Asus I'm typing on is fine and fast because of its SSD, but the screen is small so it'll easily fit in a backpack. Now, 17.3-inch laptops seem a bit rare. Most new PCs are apparently getting smaller and smaller. At home, I might as well buck industry trends and get one with more pixel real estate.

Malaysia is a good place to buy equipment. I was almost set to buy a gaming laptop this week and then it dawned on me that perhaps an all-in-one would be a better choice. There's not much to move even if it'll primarily sit on our dining table. At least they come in larger screen sizes. Now, I'm wondering if 24" is too big. It's hard to picture one in the intended location in New Westminster.