PandaPassport.com – China Blog

Yeah, you read that right. SARS Technica. For anyone not familiar with the well-known tech blog Ars Technica, the joke might very well be lost on you. But when I had to come up with a name for my new China Tech blog on inventorspot.com, SARS Technica seemed like a fun choice.

Plus I really liked the idea of making something original by adding a letter to an already famous brand. Where did I learn that, I wonder? Anyway, my latest post is “7 Amazing Chinese Farmers Inventions and Mods.” Do check it out, and let me know what you think. The RSS feed is for SARS Technica is here.

By the way, some of you may have noticed that I’ve closed the comments on this blog. I have too many blogs springing up these days, and I thought it would be wise if I had one less set of comments to moderate. But feel free to drop me a comment or two at my new online home 1rick.com/blog.

Thanks to peijinc on twitter (see his blog here) for pointing out this story. It seems that Shanzhai is spreading outside China’s borders these days. Some inventive car enthusiast has taken aspects of 4 different cars, and mashed them into 1 way awesomer super-car. Judging by the license plate in one of the photos, I can only guess that this was built in California. You but gotta admit that whoever built this has some Chinese/Shanzhai spirit in ‘em for sure.

Now lets have a look at where some of the inspiration came from. The smaller thumbnail photos are of the original car parts.

Hood: Ferrari Enzo

Headlights: Lamborghini Revention

Rear lights: Nissan Infiniti G35

Seats (Three of them!): McLaren F1

Source

As Microsoft’s October 20th Black-screen-of-death deadline passes, I’m reminded of an old post I wrote about 2 years ago when I first started this whole blog. I’m gonna repost it here, as it seems somewhat relevant to the situation. Buying real software in China is still way expensive for the average Chinese user.

ERROR: Windows has Detected that you’re a Fucking Peasant

My laptop crashed about ten days ago. Being the conscientious and responsible person that I am, of course I had all my important stuff backed up. Still a pain in the ass though, because it seemed the only way to get my computer up and running again was a new Windows installation.

So off I went to the nearest dianzi cheng (Electronic City) to pick me up a copy of Windows XP. I was determined this time that I would buy a “real” copy, as I expected if I were to purchase a fake it’d only lead to more computer headaches in the not-so distant future.

So I arrive at Electronic City and start chatting the sales lady:

Me: Do you guys have an English version of Windows XP?
Lady: Yes, please wait a moment. Please, sit sit sit.
(lady goes behind a mountain of cardboard boxes, comes back)
Lady: Here you are. 15 yuan.
Me: I was just wondering, how much for a “real” version of windows? I should really buy that one, I think.
Lady: Well, we don’t have it here, but it would surely be more than a thousand RMB.
Me: Holy Windows Batman!
Lady: Tingbudong…

Anyway, I spoke to another friend of mine yesterday who tells me that he believes a real copy of windows may cost more than two thousand RMB. I have no idea. To me, Real Windows packages are kinda like Mr. Snuffleuppagus — I’ll buy one when I can afford one. But until then, fuck off Snuffy… (October 2008 Update: Looking back, I think I must have been drinking when I wrote this)

If a Windows package costs about 2000 RMB, here are some things to consider:

• What’s the average monthly salary in China? Anyone willing to pay a month’s salary on a copy of Windows, say “I.”
• How much is a desktop computer in China? You can buy some for three or four thousand. Would you spend $1000 on a computer in America, only to have to pay $500 to buy the operating system on top of that?
• How much does a hooker cost? I’m willing to bet that you could squeeze 3 or 4 into your bed for same cost.
• 2000 yang rou chuanr (or meat-on-a-stick) doesn’t sound too lousy either. I bet those Xinjiang dudes would really love me then!

Anyway, I’m not saying that all of this software piracy is ok. But man, Windows eXtra Pricy doesn’t seem that accessible to the general population as the price stands now.

These dudes started making some wacky windows music.
Pretty incredible.

Wait’ll they get a load of Leopard….

[3 videos]

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Apparently these have been around for a while, but it’s my first time to see these Japanese Mac vs PC ads.

Oh, and if you like these, check the British Mac & PC ads.

Anyway, here are 7 in Japanese:

1. Mac & PC – Security

2. Mac & PC – Home Movie

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I came across these pictures of the Chinese HiPhone via digg. Originally posted on live25 where Sascha says that the new HiPhone can be purchased on the website dragonkicks.com.

I did some searching on the Chinese video sites, and came across this online demo, performed by none other than Mr. DragonKicks himself. (Notice his hotmail address plastered in the bottom corner. Now that’s marketing…)

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I finally got a new computer. And that purchase was about 5 years overdue.

Please don’t laugh

My old laptop was an IBM A20 Thinkpad. Manufactured in 1999, it had 128M of RAM and a 10G hard drive. Using that computer was a great exercise in how to get the most out of your PC. It forced me to use a ton of online apps, perform regular maintenance — and that in the end all that was a good thing.

My new machine is a Macbook. Read the rest of this entry »