I have promise to keep...

It was bad, too bad that after fixing an issue
on 2th of May, I got to know that it's DVD-RW
it was not working. I was shocked, why not working?

I was really upset and called Apple Support Center
instead fixing it from Locall reseller (RSG)
which already fix some issue and make a new one.

Technical support Engineer asked all posibiility to
Fix the issue and finally he said to visit to RSG
again, I refused to visit as they waste lot of time
and not actually work on issue. I asked him
to replace Laptop instead of fix it (because
after a Repair how can a brand new thing can be
call "New" more, if it is fixed 2 times).
He aggreed with me and forward my call to Customer Service
department in Austrila. She was nice worker, asked
me to give address and ensure that it will be replace.
(call was on 8May Thursday). so plan was to pick
up old hardware on Monday and back within 1 week.
I was happy.
Friday 9May, I got call from Apple Courier department
about detailed process. He told that pick up take one
week and after that it will take 3 week to get back
new laptop to you. I was little worry about this
Big Time period as I know that Company offen
take max time limit (as Dell told me to deliver
Monitor in minimum 1 week, but I got it on 3 day).

Monday 11 May, I was waiting for Call, but No call
even upto 5PM. Finally Courier person Came directly
to home and pick this. (Cool 1 promise kept!)

Thursday 15 May, I mailed on her again to get
update about courier and update Address. I got
NO reply. Now I was worring it.

Monday 18 May, I was waiting for it (although
I should not as per consulted by Apple).

Tuesday 19 May, I had not hope to get today, but
my New Laptop with Courier company. Guy brought
that with him and asked about Tax to pay, I asked
him that it will be paided by Apple India as
it was replacement and I already paid all Tax, when I
bought Laptop. So he took it back and asked to wait
for 1-2 days.

don't know when I will get back from Courier company,
but one thing was sure that Apple keep its
2nd promise also (it was better than my
expection).

Yes, it is 'royal APPLE'.

Mac - Hardware issue - Fixed in 8 days

last week, I have very painfull time as New macbook undergone a mjaor breakdown.
Screen was showing content for few seconds and then disappear. day by day, it was going to be worse.
I took to Imagine Apple Store (only store for Apple product), they said Engineer was not available all day, but surely they will help to fix this. I called Apple help over phone, he asked few question and finally with some testing, he confirmed that it is Hardware issue and asked to visit same store. Next Day I visited over there and
now they checked it. Engineer confirmed that it is hardware issue and asked to me to take machine with myself. I was bit surprised, but feel good about this. He suggested that if it is fixable issue, then he will otherwise, new laptop will be provide (but at evening he cleared that it will repairable issue, so only repaired).
I called Apple Technical support again
(want to ask why my machine is going to replace, why Repaired), English Gentleman cleared that if you comlaint within 10 days, then only we are able to replace in India, otherwise repaired. I was bit late (on 12th day, I asked to store for repair).

Any way yesterday, Engineer called me and asked to bring laptop. I took to store around 1PM, He started work on it. LCD need to replace. I was sitting over there for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Hours. "Sir, we are working. it very complex structure. this
is, that is" but finally at 9, it was fixed and
I took it with me, now working fine.
(but this is my view that company like Royal Apple, should replace, not repair, even it is working fine, but Stantard and value goes down with opening body. This is for Dell, HP and all other world, but not for Apple

MacBook, Mac OS 10.5 and OpenSUSE 10.3

I tried to install Linux (opensuse 10.3) on
my newest MacBook. Each Time I put
DVD or CD. It showed Blank Screens with
single cursor. What is this?
even tried with opensuse 11 Alpha2, but
same problem. I couldn't think that it was
Software Issue as Suse is best yet for me
to Hardware, but I used fedora 8 CD. Oh,
yes, it is also failed. so it was some new issue, which was not yet discussed in
any fourm or Mailing list (I searched 2 days on google, but not able to find).

while Windows Vista boot normal as Mac
support itself. This make me quite dispointted.

Finally I put my USB keyboard and mouse to start MacBook and by chance, rEFlt
boot from DVD and it started installation.

Cool, it worked, I verified 2 times later that during Boot rEFlt failed to boot from CD/DVD ROM if you have not Keyboard attached. Don't know if it is bug or not,
but now I have installed openSUSE 10.3
on my system as per instruction given
on THIS Page.

only problem I found after installation is
Sound, which is still not working, I tried
various solution.

Mac OS and Import Keyboard Layout

While I am using Mac in English (as Punjabi is not available),
but need Unicode Punjabi (Gurmukhi) Input, which is available
partially in Mac with Help of small variant of Incript and
Phonetic for Gurmukhi, but I was not use to any of those.

So, first issue to
How to Make New Layout (surely Import) in Mac OS?
Text input or any Editor available in Mac?

Where to Use that File and whether any Text or Binary File required?

and last issue how to Configure newly made Keymap?

from with google, I found very good Unicode Mac Keyboard
Layout Editor "Free"
Ukelele
it is Easy to copy present Keyboard layout and modified
as per required. Documentation is also good,
which help to fix me 3rd issue (where to)

good thing about Mac is to use XML file directly.
(2nd issue FIXED)

Just copy newly created layout in your Home folder 's directory
and it will start use immediately
~/Library/Keyboard Layouts/

so Path on my machine is following:
/Users/aalam/Library/Keyboard Layouts

Click on your Top-Right Side (Keyboard Indicator)
and Click to add new layout,
select Gurmukhi Jhelum and start using that.

My system working fine for me now. Biggest issue for
type Gurmukhi (Punjabi) FIXED, but few question still
in my mind

How to Import this layout in Upstream (in Mac OS by default)
and how to contact with Those people to improve Punjabi
support in OS. (surely Font Shape is Best among other
Oerating system including Windows XP, Vista, Linux
and other Free Fonts (Saab, Lohit or any other),
but I am missing 25cc (Unicode), dotted Circle in fonts.
Also want to improvement in Keyboard layout.

MacBook and my EC325 - Cost 1850Rs at Imagine

After getting MacBook (white), first challange was 19'' Dell Montior, whether
it work or now. Purchased Mini-DVI to DVI convertor and it works fine (because it
support 1400x990, while Mac only has
1248x1048). This was biggest issue,
which is actually Nothing.

While, I was sure about Reliance EC325 Modem that It would work fine (a it was
detected easliy under Linux).
but I was really in trouble, when it
was not detected under 'dmesg',
showing some error to detect device.

I asked Mac Center regarding that, Engineer Called me after 1 hour and told
"offically" Rs 1850/- need to pay to fix
issue, if you give me your home address, I will fix in Rs 1000/- "privately".
"What the hell you are taking and what whom?"
I told him to call later and start searching driver for EC325
you can download from here:
Huawei EC325 Driver for Mac OS
(Language is Thai, you may not read, but
Docuement is available for Intel machine, and
you can get Link to download driver from that document).
[Direct Download Mac OS Driver for Huawei EC325 (Zip file)]

Just install and restart your Mac and it will
detect your USB modem. (try to read
Image in PDF with driver.

It saves my 1000Rs(~25USD - Privately, and ~50USD offically), and help to
improve my experience for Mac as well as
for Hardware. But it was bad experience
only with Imagine (Mac Selling Center in
India).

Got New Mac Book - White, Apple, and Leopard

yes, I purchased Mac Book (ਆਮ). Yes, it was too costly,
but I was one of my biggest desire to work on it.

It is white one, it has an Apple on Top, It has very
different keyboard from normal. It has Very Very
Cool Graphic.

More feature include:
2GB RAM
Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz
160GB - HDD (SATA)
13'' (I like this very much)
Mac OS Leopard 10.5.2
DVD - RW (Dual Layer)
Built-in iSight camera


I had plan to take Mac OS Leopard, but they
said, it will take 2 week to make available, ok,
I asked my RH Friend Amit to give me DVD. After
3 Days, I got it. I wanted to install on my
Dell E1405 (with has Default Windows XP and
OpenSUSE installed). I collected all documentation,
whole patches, just ready to install, but shit,
Mac is providing DL DVD (dual Layer), while
my laptop has only DVD-RW.

Final I visited their Store (which is just next
building to my office). I liked Mac Mini
very much, It was Nice one with DL-DVD-RW.
it only need Monitor, keyboard and mouse.
4 USB port and 2GB RAM, it is really good idea to enjoy
Mac (although it is also costly than normal).

Final I make decision to buy Laptop only as
Kanwal need a laptop, so I can give Dell to him
(surely he will never like anything other than
Windows).
Whilte MacBook

so there is my choice: MacBook White (MB403LL)
Features are already give.
It cost me around 66,450Rs
Yes, it is costly, but it is super, it is best.

Accident, yes it was accident, which happened as my
Friend Jaswinder told. Office lift was not working, so
we visited to Mac Store and it happened.
We are out of money now totally.
CC has only Rs 23 left in balance.

Plan:
I have plan to install OpenSUSE with this, so
that Translation can continue with it. but will
wait if I can manage CVS, SVN from it.
ਹਾਂ, ਬੇਸ਼ਕ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲਈ ਸੇਵਾ ਤਾਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਕੰਮ ਹੈ!!!
Still a lot of new challenges are ahead, lot of new learning,
and a lot of fun.
ਹੁਣ ਜੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਕਹੀਏ ਤਾਂ ਕੀ?
ਬਾਕੀ ਗਲਾਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸੋਹਣੀਏ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਰਦਾਰ ਆਂ...

Windows Vista and Linux: Software Issue or Hardware?

This was first time, when I got chance to work
with Windows Vista. My Friend Felix Brought
his Dell Inspration 1420 with Windows Vista
(pre-installed).
He was trying to install Fedora with Vista, but
when Installed fedora, it was installed Boot loader
(GRUB) in MBR, Windows was selected by default (which
is expected), but when it is selected ("Other") from
Grub, Vista Failed to Boot.
Again he installed Windows Vista without removing
Linux,It worked for Windows Vista (as it replace
MBR).
Now during searching for Windows Vista + Grub,
we found that there is Software "EasyBCD", which
can install Linux/Mac Boot-loader to Windows Boot
Manger.
Installed, configured as mentioned, but Failed.
now 'Windows Boot Manger' failed to Boot Linux,
showing some technical Error.

wasted lot of time to find solution. It was not common
issue, because I installed OpenSUSE 10.3 on Rajesh's
Machine, which also had Windows Vista.

Final continue with Searching for solution, I found
something regarding BIOS Setting. Oh, yes, how
I forgot this.
it brought Signal Green to mind. SATA is making problem??

Dell provide SATA as AHCI mode default in BIOS, which
was necessary for New "Flash" feature. I have never
heard about this. by Disabling, when install fedora,
it was again showing error.
Chain loader failed work again. Try to check what was
error, it was showing error "No Loader Found"
why? at Grub, pressed 'e', it showing

----------
title Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
chainloader (hd0,1)
----------
why (hd0,1), when Vista has separte Boot partition on
/dev/sda1 (Other than where it is install, not 'C').
Yes, this was strange, but it is true now.
when used following line instead,

chainloader (hd0,0)

it worked, yes, it worked. and I enjoyed very
much to fix this issue. This was today full
day research.

will try to search whether that "AHCI" and "ATA"
mode change helped to fix this or not.