William

Dingoo A320, Emulator Console. Cheap, nice, and awesome video out features. It has DVD optimized technology (whatever MIC called it), and they delivered their promise. This baby can connect up to 59″ LCD TV or 80″ HD Projector.

The thing is, it is not as easy as you think. The OS is quite cranky, and it don’t seem to be stable, especially if you connect it to a Mac. And every time you eject from your computer, it seems to be stuck and you need to reset it. This is very troublesome and the Manual itself is equally confusing. So I did some reseach and I found a quick guide HERE.

For a start, the Dingoo itself comes preinstalled with many of the emulators you need. This is true, but there will be no MAME or Neo Pocket Emulating support. Recently, a emulator for Neo Pocket was released and you can download it via HERE. For MAME, no chance, unless you port over to Linux… But this part is too much to ask from a newbie.

To ensure your rom files are playable they need to have the correct extension. All roms except CPS1 need to be unpacked. So the rest of the roms will have to have the correct extensions as follow:

NES = .NES
GBA = .GBA
SNES = .SMC
Megadrive = .SMD
NeoGeo – .MVS
CPS1 = RAR/ZIP’d Mame Files
CPS2 = .CP2

It is interesting to point out that for thos “Sega” roms which you already had, if the extension is in “.bin”, it will not appear in your Dingoo console. However, if you just change the extension from “.bin” to “.smd”, it will appear and work well. Just like what I did to “Sega Shadow Dancer” and “Sega Batman”. I still remembered I played this game when I was primary 5.

Please note that NeoGeo and CPS2 Roms need to be run through the appropriate convertor to make them playable on the Dingoo.

You will need both CPS2 convertor and NeoGeo convertor to convert your files. Nevertheless, I believe it will be much easier if you just download the “converted roms” from torrent via the link CPS2 & NeoGeo. I did, and all the roms work like a charm in my Dingoo console and save me lots of trouble.

The 2nd problem about this console is.. well, not actually a problem but it is not easy for you to get a protector skin or screen protector for Dingoo console. After some googling, I found this link. They sell D-pad, silicon skins and screen protector for Dingoo. I personally like the silicon skin, especially the orange color skin, the screen protector is a must.

Every regret that “partition size” you set for your Boot Camp Windows when you did that installation?

I did, the 20GB is not enough for me, especially when I need to install games…

Here comes “CampTune for Mac OS X”. As a MAC OS X BootCamp™ user you made the experience to running out of one of your partition’s free space.

Now, you can try the CampTune Pre-Release version completely for FREE!

Until now installation of Windows with Boot Camp made it impossible to resize the Windows partition afterwards. So when running out of space in one of your partitions (the Mac system partition as well as the Windows partition) you had to back up the Windows files, remove the partition with Boot Camp (it would automatically delete the Windows partition and then make the Mac partition the size of the entire hard disk), re-launch the Boot Camp to create a new partition for Windows of the required size, install Windows from scratch, and finally restore the previously backed up files. This procedure would not only cost you time and effort but also proved to be highly delicate.

With Paragon’s CampTune this kind of problems are history. Just insert the CD, reboot the system, resize the partitions by moving the controller and click Apply – that´s it!

Had a tremendous hard time getting this done. This is the 1st time I actually spent more than 20 minutes setting a wireless network.

There was a weird problem with connecting my Linksys Wireless router to the StarHub newest (given) Motorola cable modem. It just don’t work at all. If you connect the cable modem straight to your computer, the network will auto connect itself, everything work like a charm. However, if I try to connect the modem to my router, it just stuck.

I set the router to “obtain a IP address automatically”, it Don’t work. Reseted the router and retry the whole thing, it Don’t work. Thought of setting static addresses, but it sounds absurd.

So I asked around, everyone told me that Linksys has a lot of problems and so.. Quite disappointed, Linksys used to be the best router. Even at one time, if StarHub bundled every single broadband plans with Motorola cable modem and Linksys router.

I was also told that Dlink routers are now the “preferred choice” for StarHub. And so..

Actually, I have the same problem with Dlink when I did the settings. It just won’t connect. Addition to my problems, I was requested to key in the “hostname” for the settings. Where the hell is the hostname? I never know StarHub need one. Did some googling, don’t get any thing near. So I just gambled and keyed it “StarHub” (this hostname worked for me apparently).

After exhausted with all options and ideas, I decided to try a myth; Switch off the router and modem at the same time, and turn it on again (at the same time).

Guess what? IT WORKED!!!

Bloody Hell…

StarHub MaxOnline delivered its promises (unlike Singtel). They do provide up to 8MBs of download (MaxOnline Express). I’m impressed with the given speed.

I drove to Jakarta Airport Terminal 1 this late afternoon. Traffic was clear, took me only about 25 mins to reach the airport from Mangga Dua areas.

This is my 1st time here. Usually if you are flying International, you will have to go Terminal 2, desite if you are taking AirAsia. Don’t be fool by the cab drivers, just insist terminal 2 if you’re flying International.

So terminal 1 basically have only 1 level. You board and arrive on the very same floor. Similar to Malaysia domestic airport too.

They divided the airport to 3 sections. 1A, 1B & 1C. 1 stands for Terminal 1.

I took some interesting pictures. But I love this shot I took on Windows Blue-screen of death. Not very impressive to broadcast it to public eh?

The last time I really drive, is a Manual Transmission. Errr, nearly rammed over everything in front of me. This time, it’s a bit different. My friend Herman borrowed me his Blue Honda Jazz when he flew back to Medan, and its equipped with Auto Transmission. My first, and I looked forward to it.

Drove down from Mal Kelapa Gading to Grand Indonesia. Took a long road heading to Ancol and turned left to go 3 in 1. This rule don’t apply on holidays I supposed, traffic was cleared all the way to the Central Business Districts.

Being a driver is so much different. Traffic is crazy (even during holiday where traffic is supposed to better), drivers are crazy turning left and right like nuts.

Overall, I made it safe. Took longer route to get used to the brakes & acceleration, especially during turning. To summarize things up:

1. Get in the car and ensure the car is in “PARK.” This is often marked with a “P”.
2. Step on the brake pedal. Keeping your foot on the brake pedal, start the car.
3. With your foot still on the brake pedal, shift the gear lever into “DRIVE.” This is often marked with a “D.”
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Take your foot off the brake pedal. The car will start to move forward slowly.
6. Put your foot on the gas pedal.
7. Press the gas pedal slowly and the car will move forward faster.
8. To stop, take your foot off the gas pedal and press the brake pedal. When you wish to start again, press the gas pedal.
9. Park the car by pressing the brake pedal and placing gear shift on “P”.