My first phone is a Windows Phone. The Nokia Lumia 710. Remember that phone? No? Okay.
After that I switched to Android. My first Android phone being the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4g. Not a bad phone at first:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4g
Snapdragon 400
5.5 inch IPS display
2GB RAM
8GB internal storage (up to 64GB micro sd support)
3100 mAh battery
It was a little laggy playing games (any game), but I didn't mind at all. The battery could last a day and that was all I cared about...
... till 2 years later. Stutters are encountered at every turn, battery life now needs to be charged twice a day, and gets uncomfortably hot just by wifi browsing. Enough is enough.
So I've tried Windows Phone, and Android. Time to try iOS.
Why, you ask? Find out in my next post!
Sunday, 4 December 2016
Sunday, 9 October 2016
Sudio Vasa Bla Wireless Earphones
I got really lucky with this one, I won an international giveaway contest on Youtube! Thanks to O-Gear Malaysia and Sudio. If you haven't heard about O-Gear Malaysia, they do reviews on gadget related stuff including this pair of earphones. You can check them out here on Facebook.
Sudio is a Swedish premium audio company specializing in earphones. They have different range of earphones such as the Vasa Bla, Vasa, Klang, and TVA. You can check them out in their respective links. The ones I have are the Vasa Bla wireless earphones. In Malaysia, you can find their earphones in Apple distributor stores. I have never owned a pair of wireless earphones before, so this is a new category for me.
So on with the unboxing!
You get a nice gift box with the red ribbon that has Sudio written all over it. Inside you'll find the Vasa Bla hard cover box with a magnetic flap.
Upon opening the flap you get 2 more boxes which houses the earphones, charging cable, manual, extra buds, Sudio's guarantee certificate and leather pouch. The overall packaging has premium feel to it.
The earphones are what you would expect from similar wireless earphones- earphones without the 3.5mm jack. You have the Left and Right earphones, control module for volume and play/pause/skip/call buttons, and battery module. It fits nicely in my ears, but if the fit isn't for you, there are different sized spare earbuds.
Pairing the earphones with your phone or device is simple:
1. Hold the middle button down till the notification light rapidly blinks blue then a steady red.
2. Then with Bluetooth enabled on your phone, pair it. Done.
I am no audio expert, and the earphones I usually use are the cheapo bassy ones, so using the Vasa Bla is a little different for me. The audio quality has less bass than what I am used to, but has a good balance with the treble. I have tested listening to instrumental and normal songs, watching movies and Youtube with it, and they sounded quite clear and nice. Though I am still getting used to the necklace like feel, turning my head left to right.
Sudio claims that the Vasa Bla can go about 8 hours on a single charge. That should last you the whole day, on and off use. I have yet to test the claim so there will be an update on this.
Best thing is, that I don't have to worry about cables anymore.
Sudio is a Swedish premium audio company specializing in earphones. They have different range of earphones such as the Vasa Bla, Vasa, Klang, and TVA. You can check them out in their respective links. The ones I have are the Vasa Bla wireless earphones. In Malaysia, you can find their earphones in Apple distributor stores. I have never owned a pair of wireless earphones before, so this is a new category for me.
So on with the unboxing!
You get a nice gift box with the red ribbon that has Sudio written all over it. Inside you'll find the Vasa Bla hard cover box with a magnetic flap.
Upon opening the flap you get 2 more boxes which houses the earphones, charging cable, manual, extra buds, Sudio's guarantee certificate and leather pouch. The overall packaging has premium feel to it.
The earphones are what you would expect from similar wireless earphones- earphones without the 3.5mm jack. You have the Left and Right earphones, control module for volume and play/pause/skip/call buttons, and battery module. It fits nicely in my ears, but if the fit isn't for you, there are different sized spare earbuds.
Pairing the earphones with your phone or device is simple:
1. Hold the middle button down till the notification light rapidly blinks blue then a steady red.
2. Then with Bluetooth enabled on your phone, pair it. Done.
I am no audio expert, and the earphones I usually use are the cheapo bassy ones, so using the Vasa Bla is a little different for me. The audio quality has less bass than what I am used to, but has a good balance with the treble. I have tested listening to instrumental and normal songs, watching movies and Youtube with it, and they sounded quite clear and nice. Though I am still getting used to the necklace like feel, turning my head left to right.
Sudio claims that the Vasa Bla can go about 8 hours on a single charge. That should last you the whole day, on and off use. I have yet to test the claim so there will be an update on this.
Best thing is, that I don't have to worry about cables anymore.
Saturday, 13 August 2016
Batman: Arkham Knight
Batman Arkham Knight is one of the best games of 2015 as the third and (supposingly) final installment of the Arkham series. It was well received in the console versions; for its superb graphics, combat system, the ability to drive the Batmobile, and plenty of side missions and DLCs.
However, the release of the PC version came with major issues. Such issues were drops in frame rate, stuttering, and freezing throughout the gameplay. It was so bad that Rocksteady pulled it out of Steam, and announced that it will no longer be available for Linux and Macs. Months later, we saw it on Steam again, with most of its issues fixed.
But is it really fixed?
With the Steam Summer sale on, and Batman Arkham Knight available at a ridiculously low price, I have decided to give it a shot and purchased the game.
For all who are still skeptical about purchasing this game, lay your worries to rest. This game runs fine, most of the major bugs are fixed and its playable with a few frame drop hiccups.
However, the release of the PC version came with major issues. Such issues were drops in frame rate, stuttering, and freezing throughout the gameplay. It was so bad that Rocksteady pulled it out of Steam, and announced that it will no longer be available for Linux and Macs. Months later, we saw it on Steam again, with most of its issues fixed.
But is it really fixed?
With the Steam Summer sale on, and Batman Arkham Knight available at a ridiculously low price, I have decided to give it a shot and purchased the game.
 |
| Ta-daa!! Fully functional on the PC. |
For all who are still skeptical about purchasing this game, lay your worries to rest. This game runs fine, most of the major bugs are fixed and its playable with a few frame drop hiccups.
 |
| This is not a good shot, but you know where I'm going with this. (I'm trying to show the Batmobile.) |
And this concludes my post. I am not going into review of the game, there are plenty of review sites for that. This post is just to show you that this game is (almost) functional, playable, and will give you a good time.
Friday, 18 March 2016
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Launch - Malaysia
One of the most anticipated phones of 2016 is the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and it's finally here in Malaysia! Taking design cues from the S6 Edge, the S7 Edge comes with the same 5.5 inch curved display, a curved chassis at the back, and with some improvements over its predecessor.
Some of the improvements include better battery life, camera, and more usefulness of the curved edges. Also waterproof... sorry, water-resistant.
I wasn't there at the launch due to working hours, so I only managed to capture the empty stage & exhibition (bummer).
However it is good to know it has finally arrived in my country, and many of us will be happy to err, touch it. It IS that sexy. Here's the full coverage of the event from the folks at Lowyat (click here).
Some of the improvements include better battery life, camera, and more usefulness of the curved edges. Also waterproof... sorry, water-resistant.
I wasn't there at the launch due to working hours, so I only managed to capture the empty stage & exhibition (bummer).
 |
| I missed the event. Damn you full time job! |
However it is good to know it has finally arrived in my country, and many of us will be happy to err, touch it. It IS that sexy. Here's the full coverage of the event from the folks at Lowyat (click here).
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Rise of the Tomb Raider
I don't usually buy games, but when I heard that the sequel to the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot was coming out last year, and having played it, I just couldn't help but buy the game. This is not a full in-depth review, just my thoughts on it.
BIG SPOILERS AHEAD!!
GRAPHICS
Rise of the Tomb Raider is by far one of the most graphically beautiful games I have played.
Below are my graphic settings:
The map is a lot bigger this time where you get to travel to places like Syria, Siberia, and hidden ancient cities. Overall there are about over 40 base camps, so you get the picture. The graphic details are stunning, from the clear and sharp images of landscapes down to the pores on Lara's face upon close up. You can actually see them!
WHAT'S NEW
Controls are similar to the previous Tomb Raider. What's new is that now you can climb tree branches and shiv-attack enemies from above. You are now able to craft arrows and ammo from the resources you gather around you like wood, mushrooms, explosives (special ammo).
Sometimes you will encounter exotic animals like snow leopards, lynx, and deers. After you kill them, you will be able to use their skin to craft special upgrades for your equipment/weapons.
There are side quests that you can choose to take on, like helping the natives. This will not effect the progress of the game as you can always come back to finish them later.
UPDATE: A new DLC has come up, called Baba Yaga. More on that later in the post.
EXPERIENCE
The level of detail in this game is just amazing. Everything is just sharp and crisp. The graphics are set to High, imagine how it would look like if set to Ultra. However, setting to Ultra stutters a little bit on the GTX 970m, so to fully enjoy this game a 980m would be recommended.
Pressing Q, like the last game, highlights your main objective, hidden treasures/monuments/etc, exotic animals, challenge markers, and resources. It is quite useful if you want to find everything, but not necessary if you just want to play the story.
Tombs come with puzzles that reward you at the end, just like the last game, though slightly more challenging this time around. Luckily, hit Q and Lara will give you a hint. Hints which I find quite easy to follow, like a little too easy.
BIG SPOILERS AHEAD!!
GRAPHICS
Rise of the Tomb Raider is by far one of the most graphically beautiful games I have played.
 |
| Settings are set as recommended by nVidia GeForce Exprience. |
The map is a lot bigger this time where you get to travel to places like Syria, Siberia, and hidden ancient cities. Overall there are about over 40 base camps, so you get the picture. The graphic details are stunning, from the clear and sharp images of landscapes down to the pores on Lara's face upon close up. You can actually see them!
WHAT'S NEW
Controls are similar to the previous Tomb Raider. What's new is that now you can climb tree branches and shiv-attack enemies from above. You are now able to craft arrows and ammo from the resources you gather around you like wood, mushrooms, explosives (special ammo).
 |
| Bears are the most difficult to kill. Not to mention scary. |
Sometimes you will encounter exotic animals like snow leopards, lynx, and deers. After you kill them, you will be able to use their skin to craft special upgrades for your equipment/weapons.
There are side quests that you can choose to take on, like helping the natives. This will not effect the progress of the game as you can always come back to finish them later.
UPDATE: A new DLC has come up, called Baba Yaga. More on that later in the post.
EXPERIENCE
 |
| One of the most graphically beautiful & detailed games I have ever played. |
 |
| At Base Camps is where you can equip different weapons & upgrade them, equip different clothing, and fast travel to any camps throughout the maps. |
 |
| Objectives light up just like the previous game, letting you know your next destination. Very helpful to also find hidden objects, enemies, exotic animals, and resources. |
 |
| Let there be light. Moments like these deserve a pause of awe. |
 |
| You now have to gather resources to craft ammo, medicine, or weapon upgrades. |
Tombs come with puzzles that reward you at the end, just like the last game, though slightly more challenging this time around. Luckily, hit Q and Lara will give you a hint. Hints which I find quite easy to follow, like a little too easy.
If you had played, say Tomb Raider Anniversary, you don't get any sort of hints from Lara. You are on your own to figure it out, and that I feel gives you the true explorer experience. Hopefully future sequels will bring that back.
BABA YAGA DLC
The story goes that a witch known as the Baba Yaga has been terrorizing the mountains in Siberia. You encounter a native girl whose grandfather has gone missing looking for his long lost wife in a place called the Wicked Vale. She believes the witch has him captive, and you have to help her find him.
Once downloaded, the DLC will appear in the main story as a side quest which you can choose to complete later. It throws you into a big boss fight at the end of story, something that is often similarly used in the previous Tomb Raider games. So this brings quite a nostalgic feeling. Nice touch Square Enix.
CONCLUSION
Rise of the Tomb Raider is a great adventure game, bringing the explorer side of you to life virtually. If you had played the first Tomb Raider, this will be an even deeper game with vast landscapes, but otherwise similar experience.
 |
| You can see details on her clothing and hair! Compared to the last game, the hair flows much more fluid now. |
 |
| Lara can now jump enemies from above, and kill them silently. |
BABA YAGA DLC
 |
| Wicked Vale camp in the new DLC. |
Once downloaded, the DLC will appear in the main story as a side quest which you can choose to complete later. It throws you into a big boss fight at the end of story, something that is often similarly used in the previous Tomb Raider games. So this brings quite a nostalgic feeling. Nice touch Square Enix.
 |
| Completing the DLC gives you the Wraithskin outfit, complete with the Dreamstinger bow. |
CONCLUSION
Rise of the Tomb Raider is a great adventure game, bringing the explorer side of you to life virtually. If you had played the first Tomb Raider, this will be an even deeper game with vast landscapes, but otherwise similar experience.
Tuesday, 15 March 2016
My Mi Band- 2nd thoughts
In my last review of the Mi Band a few months back, I described it as an almost-perfect fitness tracker. It is almost accurate in reading steps, has a month long battery life, and most importantly, affordable with a $15 price tag.
Now three months since the review, I am having some second thoughts about it. Let me tell you why.
While tracking your steps is great and motivates you to reach that 10,000 steps-a-day goal, it kinda gets old after awhile. I find myself no longer reaching out for my phone and checking how many steps I took today. And the gesture thing where you swing your wrist to your face and it tells you your progress of the day, which I highly praised it, I don't do that anymore. It just feels like a boring routine. Now I mainly use the Mi Band as a notification device. That thing saved me many missed calls.
Why, you ask? Good question. The answer: no display.
No doubt, it is great to check your progress once in awhile. But wouldn't it be great if you can check the time ON the display itself? Then I wouldn't have to whip up my phone every time I want to do that. FitBit Charge and Pebble did it, why not Xiaomi?
Do I still recommend it despite this new doubt? Still yes, if you are a fitness fanatic, or just want a device to notify you of incoming calls and don't mind pulling out your phone to check the time, which I do not like.
For me, a smartwatch like the Pebble will be a perfect fit.
Now three months since the review, I am having some second thoughts about it. Let me tell you why.
While tracking your steps is great and motivates you to reach that 10,000 steps-a-day goal, it kinda gets old after awhile. I find myself no longer reaching out for my phone and checking how many steps I took today. And the gesture thing where you swing your wrist to your face and it tells you your progress of the day, which I highly praised it, I don't do that anymore. It just feels like a boring routine. Now I mainly use the Mi Band as a notification device. That thing saved me many missed calls.
Why, you ask? Good question. The answer: no display.
No doubt, it is great to check your progress once in awhile. But wouldn't it be great if you can check the time ON the display itself? Then I wouldn't have to whip up my phone every time I want to do that. FitBit Charge and Pebble did it, why not Xiaomi?
Do I still recommend it despite this new doubt? Still yes, if you are a fitness fanatic, or just want a device to notify you of incoming calls and don't mind pulling out your phone to check the time, which I do not like.
For me, a smartwatch like the Pebble will be a perfect fit.
Saturday, 5 March 2016
Illegear Z5 Review
Disclaimer: I have used this laptop for over 2 months. Been using it to surf the web, 3D rendering, play games, watch videos.
The Illegear Z5 is officially my very first gaming laptop, and I have to say it is quite a decent laptop. Please bear in mind that this is just a rough review, nothing deep like benchmarks or decibels.
Let's get on with the review!
DESIGN
I have always like rugged designs, and the Z5 met that expectation. The entire body is made of plastic, except for the metal plate on the keyboard and touchpad area. Overall build is quite sturdy and bulky, so if you're looking for a slim laptop this isn't for you. The weight is about 2.4kg, which is average for a 15" laptop, but if you're coming from a Macbook Air like me, it is quite hefty.
I love the way Illegear added the two backlit lines on its lid. Together with curves and rugged lines makes the Z5 standout as a gaming rig.
Open the lid and you are greeted with a chiclet keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard, in my opinion, while its not the best is actually quite decent to type on. There are 4 programmable macro keys which you can customize to your liking, whether its to adjust the volume, brightness, etc. Speaking of that, the default way to adjust them is to press Fn together with the desired key, which can be quite annoying when you are doing work or play.
UPDATE: Illegear has recently launched its 14" S4 Clevo-based model, utilizing the same specs as this Z5 with Core i7 6700HQ Skylake, with a cleaner design and a little more expensive. For those of you who are looking for a laptop for gaming laptop but want something smaller as well as for business purposes, this is one for you.
DISPLAY
The 15" 1080p display is an IPS panel with a matte finish. Color reproduction is good, as well as its wide viewing angles. One thing I dislike about it is its thick bezels and glossy plastic its made of. The display is sturdy, stays at one place when you are moving it about. However it wobbles when you tap on the display, and it bobs back and forth.
Closing the lid is a minor issue, as you have to push it down until you hear a "thud" to properly close it. Otherwise, the display does not fully close and opens just a little gap, preventing the laptop from going to sleep.
SOUND
The Z5 comes with a 2.1 system which sound pretty decent. Two speakers at the front of the laptop, and one subwoofer underneath it.
I don't see how placing the speakers in front of the laptop improves your experience, but I guess it is a good way to keep your distance from the screen.
GAMING
The Z5 comes with a nVidia GTX 970m with 6GB DDR5 RAM, and I have to say it handles the latest games pretty well. I have only a handful of games here, for example:
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)
Had the graphics set to High, gameplay was smooth. Ultra settings stutters a little bit.
BioShock Infinite (2013)
Had the graphic set to Ultra, gameplay is also quite smooth.
Left 4 Dead 2 (2010)
Had the graphic set to Ultra, very smooth gameplay.
3D RENDERING
I have compared the time it took to render a simple bedroom (1600 x 900px, full render settings) like this in 3DSMAX between my desktop computer and the Z5, since I use them quite often for my work. Here are the specs and rendering times for both PCs:
Desktop
Core i5 3550 Ivy Bridge
8GB DDR3 RAM
GTX 550Ti 1GB RAM
Rendering time: 1hr 53mins
Z5
Core i7 4700HQ Haswell
8GB DDR3 RAM
GTX 970M 6GB RAM
Rendering time: 53mins
It is significantly faster on the Z5 due to its Core i7 processor and its hyper-threading capabilities. I have yet to upgrade my desktop to an i7, so I will compare them again sometime later. (stay tuned!)
TEMPERATURE
All gaming laptops get quite warm during use. The Z5 stayed cool-to-lukewarm under normal use, ie surfing the web, playing videos, typing, and listening to music.
During gaming or 3D rendering sessions however, it gets really hot at the bottom, so its not advisable to put it on your lap while you are doing so. This is also to prevent blocking the airflow coming out of the 2 big vents behind the laptop.
BATTERY
The Z5 lasted 3-4 hours on normal use, which I consider better than average for a gaming laptop. Gaming however, is a different story, with only lasted a little over an hour playing Rise of the Tomb Raider. Then again, this IS a gaming laptop.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the Illegear Z5 is a good performance laptop for the buck, I love it although I regret getting the plastic lid instead of the aluminium one. The aluminium cover is said to enhance the Z5's WiFi range/connectivity. This is for those who wants raw gaming and processing power, and doesn't mind the rugged gamer-like design. The Z5 that I have is the Haswell version. If you want better battery life, you should go for the Skylake version. Performance wise is about the same.
The Illegear Z5 is officially my very first gaming laptop, and I have to say it is quite a decent laptop. Please bear in mind that this is just a rough review, nothing deep like benchmarks or decibels.
Let's get on with the review!
DESIGN
I have always like rugged designs, and the Z5 met that expectation. The entire body is made of plastic, except for the metal plate on the keyboard and touchpad area. Overall build is quite sturdy and bulky, so if you're looking for a slim laptop this isn't for you. The weight is about 2.4kg, which is average for a 15" laptop, but if you're coming from a Macbook Air like me, it is quite hefty.
I love the way Illegear added the two backlit lines on its lid. Together with curves and rugged lines makes the Z5 standout as a gaming rig.
Open the lid and you are greeted with a chiclet keyboard and trackpad. The keyboard, in my opinion, while its not the best is actually quite decent to type on. There are 4 programmable macro keys which you can customize to your liking, whether its to adjust the volume, brightness, etc. Speaking of that, the default way to adjust them is to press Fn together with the desired key, which can be quite annoying when you are doing work or play.
UPDATE: Illegear has recently launched its 14" S4 Clevo-based model, utilizing the same specs as this Z5 with Core i7 6700HQ Skylake, with a cleaner design and a little more expensive. For those of you who are looking for a laptop for gaming laptop but want something smaller as well as for business purposes, this is one for you.
DISPLAY
The 15" 1080p display is an IPS panel with a matte finish. Color reproduction is good, as well as its wide viewing angles. One thing I dislike about it is its thick bezels and glossy plastic its made of. The display is sturdy, stays at one place when you are moving it about. However it wobbles when you tap on the display, and it bobs back and forth.
Closing the lid is a minor issue, as you have to push it down until you hear a "thud" to properly close it. Otherwise, the display does not fully close and opens just a little gap, preventing the laptop from going to sleep.
SOUND
The Z5 comes with a 2.1 system which sound pretty decent. Two speakers at the front of the laptop, and one subwoofer underneath it.
I don't see how placing the speakers in front of the laptop improves your experience, but I guess it is a good way to keep your distance from the screen.
GAMING
The Z5 comes with a nVidia GTX 970m with 6GB DDR5 RAM, and I have to say it handles the latest games pretty well. I have only a handful of games here, for example:
 |
| Image from Steam. |
Had the graphics set to High, gameplay was smooth. Ultra settings stutters a little bit.
 |
| Image from Steam. |
Had the graphic set to Ultra, gameplay is also quite smooth.
 |
| Image from Steam. |
Had the graphic set to Ultra, very smooth gameplay.
3D RENDERING
I have compared the time it took to render a simple bedroom (1600 x 900px, full render settings) like this in 3DSMAX between my desktop computer and the Z5, since I use them quite often for my work. Here are the specs and rendering times for both PCs:
Desktop
Core i5 3550 Ivy Bridge
8GB DDR3 RAM
GTX 550Ti 1GB RAM
Rendering time: 1hr 53mins
Z5
Core i7 4700HQ Haswell
8GB DDR3 RAM
GTX 970M 6GB RAM
Rendering time: 53mins
It is significantly faster on the Z5 due to its Core i7 processor and its hyper-threading capabilities. I have yet to upgrade my desktop to an i7, so I will compare them again sometime later. (stay tuned!)
TEMPERATURE
All gaming laptops get quite warm during use. The Z5 stayed cool-to-lukewarm under normal use, ie surfing the web, playing videos, typing, and listening to music.
During gaming or 3D rendering sessions however, it gets really hot at the bottom, so its not advisable to put it on your lap while you are doing so. This is also to prevent blocking the airflow coming out of the 2 big vents behind the laptop.
BATTERY
The Z5 lasted 3-4 hours on normal use, which I consider better than average for a gaming laptop. Gaming however, is a different story, with only lasted a little over an hour playing Rise of the Tomb Raider. Then again, this IS a gaming laptop.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the Illegear Z5 is a good performance laptop for the buck, I love it although I regret getting the plastic lid instead of the aluminium one. The aluminium cover is said to enhance the Z5's WiFi range/connectivity. This is for those who wants raw gaming and processing power, and doesn't mind the rugged gamer-like design. The Z5 that I have is the Haswell version. If you want better battery life, you should go for the Skylake version. Performance wise is about the same.
Sunday, 14 February 2016
Illegear Z5 Unboxing
After months of pondering I decided to get a gaming laptop to replace my 13" Macbook Air. The major reasons for this is; for work (3D rendering) so that I can get things done on the go; and as a backup system in case my desktop crashes. Gaming is a plus.
One of the best here in Malaysia (as recommended by many) is a company called Illegear. For those who aren't familiar, Illegear is a computer company specializing in custom-built notebooks, very much like XoticPC in America or Aftershock in Singapore. Majority of their laptops consist of Clevo models and a few Aorus, but the Z5 is their very own custom laptop.
PROMO DEAL
They were offering pre-order promotion of their Z5, one of their most popular models, with a Skylake CPU and GTX 970m with 6GB GDDR5 RAM, comes with free 128GB SSD and color calibration. Which seems like a pretty good deal and not to mention cheaper than most branded laptops with similar specs, so I took it.
ASSEMBLY & DELIVERY
Since it is a pre-order item, Illegear told me that it would take about a few weeks to arrive. I placed my order on the 24 November, so the notebook should be arriving in mid-December. Two weeks later there was an issue with the Skylake processor and the shipping date was pushed back to the end of the month. I was bummed.
However, they asked me that if I needed it urgently, they can offer me an alternative: a Haswell model instead with similar specs and Illegear was kind enough to maintain the free SSD offered earlier. I have read about Haswell processors, and since there is not much difference in performance between Haswell and Skylake, not to mention being RM600 (about USD$140) cheaper than the latter, I accepted. Shipping would take about a week. And so, after more than 3 weeks in total of anxious waiting, the Z5 finally arrived on my doorstep. Final price comes to almost RM5600, including Windows 10. You can check the configuration at the end of this post.
UNBOXING
In the box you get:
- The laptop itself in velvet sleeve
- Humongous power brick
- Recovery & driver disks (Windows too)
- Some spare screws (in case you lose them)
- Illegear backpack
ONTO THE BEAST
The Z5 has a bulky, rugged exterior, typical for a gaming laptop. The majority of the material is plastic, but has quite a solid build to it. The two red streaks on the lid can be lit up when turned on, but can be turned off.
Here are the pictures of the Z5 (pardon the messy desk in the background)
CONFIGURATION
15" matte IPS display
Core i7 4700HQ
8GB DDR3 RAM
128GB MSATA SSD
1TB 7200rpm HDD
GTX 970M 6GB DDR5 RAM
2.1 sound system
I will post the review of this laptop soon, so stay tuned!
One of the best here in Malaysia (as recommended by many) is a company called Illegear. For those who aren't familiar, Illegear is a computer company specializing in custom-built notebooks, very much like XoticPC in America or Aftershock in Singapore. Majority of their laptops consist of Clevo models and a few Aorus, but the Z5 is their very own custom laptop.
PROMO DEAL
They were offering pre-order promotion of their Z5, one of their most popular models, with a Skylake CPU and GTX 970m with 6GB GDDR5 RAM, comes with free 128GB SSD and color calibration. Which seems like a pretty good deal and not to mention cheaper than most branded laptops with similar specs, so I took it.
ASSEMBLY & DELIVERY
Since it is a pre-order item, Illegear told me that it would take about a few weeks to arrive. I placed my order on the 24 November, so the notebook should be arriving in mid-December. Two weeks later there was an issue with the Skylake processor and the shipping date was pushed back to the end of the month. I was bummed.
However, they asked me that if I needed it urgently, they can offer me an alternative: a Haswell model instead with similar specs and Illegear was kind enough to maintain the free SSD offered earlier. I have read about Haswell processors, and since there is not much difference in performance between Haswell and Skylake, not to mention being RM600 (about USD$140) cheaper than the latter, I accepted. Shipping would take about a week. And so, after more than 3 weeks in total of anxious waiting, the Z5 finally arrived on my doorstep. Final price comes to almost RM5600, including Windows 10. You can check the configuration at the end of this post.
UNBOXING
In the box you get:
- The laptop itself in velvet sleeve
- Humongous power brick
- Recovery & driver disks (Windows too)
- Some spare screws (in case you lose them)
- Illegear backpack
ONTO THE BEAST
The Z5 has a bulky, rugged exterior, typical for a gaming laptop. The majority of the material is plastic, but has quite a solid build to it. The two red streaks on the lid can be lit up when turned on, but can be turned off.
Here are the pictures of the Z5 (pardon the messy desk in the background)
 |
| On the left: 1xUSB 3.0, 1xUSB 2.0, SD Card slot, indicators for battery, hdd, and wifi. |
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| On the front: two stereo speakers |
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| On the right: 1x microphone jack, 1x headphone jack, 2x USB 3.0, Kensington lock |
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| On the back: power jack, ethernet, VGA, HDMI, cooling vents |
CONFIGURATION
15" matte IPS display
Core i7 4700HQ
8GB DDR3 RAM
128GB MSATA SSD
1TB 7200rpm HDD
GTX 970M 6GB DDR5 RAM
2.1 sound system
I will post the review of this laptop soon, so stay tuned!
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