HD2

I've had this phone for 3 years now. Bought it in Cardiff with Khalis from super cute Orange salesperson named Artie. Artie was kind enough to give me good number as well, my number then ended with 5555.

I'd been surveying for new phone for months before I got myself this new phone. It was at first a tie between 3GS and Desire. I waited for Desire for so long but by launch date, I got tawar hati. So 3GS je lah now left.. However, there was then news about 4G (remember the exclusive by Gizmodo?) so I had to consider another target.. Why buy 3GS kalau ade 4G right? But if I wanna wait for 4G, next year la baru masuk Msia right...This HD2 was really an impulse buy.. I never considered it before. One day Khalis and I went jalan2, masuk random shops and ended up buying it. I didnt really think about it carefully pon..

So now I've had HD2 for 2 weeks but I haven't really use it.. Waiting for the screen protector to arrive (whyyyyy la I bought the SP online????).. I havent inserted my simcard, just mlm2 gune for youtube.. So when I get the SP, I'm gonna load it up with millions of games and apps..

I dont think I can write a review on this HD2 coz I ni bukan le tech savvy.. But so far so good, very responsive and the big screen is awesome so when I go traveling like dlm ERL or tunggu flight ke, or tunggu meeting/seminar to start.. (I dunno why, I have no car and rely on taxi all the time but I always be the first to arrive at whatever events..especially in the morning, kalau cakap nk start kol 9,I of course la 830 like that dah sampai but they always have to start at like 930 coz org datang lambat sbb traffic jam etc.).. I can watch movies/drama..so its a really 2in1 device for me..

Gizmodo said that "in terms of hardware, its the nicest phone in the world" but "burdened with a categorically disappointing OS".. and lagi..."the HD2 is, without qualification, the best Windows Mobile phone on the market right now. And being a Windows Mobile phone isn't all bad: The browsers have Flash, Exchange support is perfect, and multitasking is seamless. On top of that, the Sense shell is an impressive piece of software, especially in terms of social networking and media playback. But the point remains: Even behind the very convincing disguise of a modern phone, Windows Mobile is lagging well behind its competitors in terms of new app development, fast OS development and general user experience, and by the time you get your hands on this phone—and just as importantly, by the time your contract is halfway through—Windows Mobile 6.5, Sense or no Sense, will feel like a complete dinosaur. Hence the "wait"—for a similar phone with better software, or for Windows Mobile 7. That said, if you're a Windows Mobile fan, or aware of its various quirks and still willing to take the dive, this is the finest Windows Phone in the world, bar none"

The news that I heard is that HD2 users would be able to upgrade to WM 7.. so I'm just crossing my fingers now.. hopefuli from now onwards WM pon mcm Windows jgak, boleh downgrade and upgrade sesuka ati..

Of the three above, I think HD2 looks the nicest.. Desire is said by many to be the best phone of the three, but it really feels cheap in your hand...too plasticky IMO..

Kedah Trip

Wrote this few weeks ago..

Khalis and I are currently in Sungai Petani and we just came back from Pantai Merdeka and Gunung Jerai. Well we didnt actually go to Pantai Merdeka, we just went to the jetty to Pantai Merdeka. Pantai Merdeka's just like 300m from the jetty.

Anyway, the highlight of our day was Gunung Jerai. We drove up to the (almost) peak and discovered heaven. There's a new resort at the summit, The Regency Jerai Hill Resort which was officially open only last month. It was previously a goverment bungalow but the bungalow now is nowhere in sight replaced by 72 chalets instead. (But it didnt look like 72 to me. If I had to guess, I'd say maybe 25, max)

A 12km winding road connects the main road to the resort and after travelling that road, we found that Cameron Highlands is nothing. It's very steep and the corners are really sharp (a lot were u-turn like). Good thing was that its only 12km.

It was still early when we reached the top and we couldnt see anything on the grounds below as the mist was too thick. (Khalis and I were arguing if the mist's actually cloud. If you look at Gunung Jerai from afar, you'd see that the summit's blanketed with clouds. But once on top, its kinda hard to 'swallow' that we're IN the clouds.) And there was light drizzle as well. The weather got better 15mints later and we were presented with a truly magnificent view - as if there's another set of heaven below with both sawahs and sea in the picture..

The air was sooooooo fresh, pretty much the same air we breathed in Norway, but maybe 4 or 5 degree Celcius higher. We walked around admiring the beauty and pastuh brenti makan at the only diner there, Puncak Kedah, which was a fine-dining kinda thing. We sat at the best table (view-wise) in the restaurant and ordered latte, apple juice and toast. The only 'potong' thing was that they were trimming the lawn when we were waiting for our food and noise they made was super loud

Architeture-wise, the resort is ok. Wasnt actually great (except the suites) but acceptable. But the view from all the rooms mmg awesome and you couldnt care less about the building. Besides, the rooms are cheap too. The most expensive ones are yours for RM500/night. I totally understand the thinking. Why invest heavily and build something like YTL's Pangkor Laut when it cant attract the kinda crowd Pangkor Laut does? Besides, I'd believe that being gazetted as hutan simpan kekal there's not much land available for development up there and limited facilities = limited upside income potential

I like the resort, but I wouldnt recommend it to everyone. Other than great view and fresh air, there's nothing else there. If you're the kind that can survive with only good books+internet and value fresh air and great view more than good food and fun activities, then this is the place for you.

I didnt bring my camera, and the photos from Khalis's phone aren't that great. But the blogs below did entries on the resort.

Dan Liew
Fastblox