Fun?? I dont think so. To me, they are necessary evils.haha

Hope they’ll be up and running soon though:)

G: lol. I guess that’s the difference between boys and girls. You know what they say about boys and their toys.

1) Wireless headset (I Tech Blue con Mini Clip - I forget which model) - RM119
2) Bluetooth Dongle (I tech) - RM40
3) Modem/Router (D Link - I forget which model) RM199

I thought I’d just get the whole lot bought and done with since whatever savings I could potentially get at the PC Fair would be offset by the parking, petrol and time spent.

I decided to go for the I tech bluetooth dongle as it is from the same brand as the headset, and it offers a 1 year warranty, the other non-branded ones were going for RM15 as you said, but some friends said that I might as well go for the same brand, fully compatible one as the difference in price was only 25 bucks.

And let me just say this - Yow!Zaa! Low Yatt is a real happening place! The last time I was there was in 2000 and you could practically hear the flies/mosquitos buzzing around waiting for the sales people to swat them!! But wah!! On Sunday, that place is more packed than your local pasar malam!

Thanks again for the info. And while I most likely won’t go to the PC Fair nor visit Low Yatt anytime soon, I’m happy that I got my shopping done:)

G: Hi again. Yes, you’re absolutely right. Taking into consideration the additional overhead, the savings from the fair is negligible. As far as I can tell, the prices you paid seem reasonable. Your decision to go with same brand for compatibility is also a good one. No doubt you’ve had little problem setting things up. Anyway, I’m glad to hear you’ve bought everything and you’re content with the price. Have fun with your new toys :)

I’ll definitely do the pre-PC fair price scouting at Low Yatt. I’m a bargain hunter too, just not a confident one when it comes to IT stuff:)

G: Most welcome. Get a friend to come along. Let me know how things turn out for you ;)

You highlighted an important point - the need to get a WiFi dongle, which I stupidly forgot I might need to get. I dont have an aging PC, in fact it is a new desktop which I have recently purchased that hasnt arrived yet. Dont know whether it is WiFi enabled, the specs in the quotation were all greek to me:) Gotta check that out and see whether I need a WiFi dongle.

Bluetooth dongle - I cant believe prices start as low as RM15!! The one I saw at Mid Valley was RM100 plus, the brand IIRC is I-Con.

Question: Do I neccesarily need to get an expensive brand? I basically want something that’ll enable me to move within a 5-10m radius of my computer whilst still being able to communicate on my wireless headset.

Would it be correct to say that for clearer voice transmission and reception, it is more important to get a good wireless headset than a good wireless dongle?

I’m not adverse to getting cheaper brands, but my worry is the durability and reliability of these items. Basically, I just want everything to last as long as possible, and not give me any problems as I am somewhat IT/gadget-challenged! I dont mind paying a higher price for products that’ll give me less headaches in the long run.

Since I probably wont find cheaper prices for the items at the PC fair, could you recommend a shop in KL?

As mentioned, items I need to get:

1) Bluetooth gongle
2) Wireless headset
3) Wireless router/modem (seperate or single units)
4) WiFi dongle

Many thanks again.

G: Hi again :)

There’s nothing wrong with purchasing a bluetooth dongle for RM15. The only major difference between that and the higher priced ones is usually the distance of coverage. If you’re going to be within a 5-10m radius, then the cheaper ones are fine. There is little difference in terms of durability. (Here’s a little secret: they usually come out of the same factory as OEM and the different dealers put their own mark on it). The only reason to pay more is if you want a wider coverage.

There is usually little problem in terms of transmission. The bandwidth of a low end bluetooth device is more than sufficient to support the data transmission between the headset and the computer. As you have aptly put, voice quality is down to the quality of the headset itself.

Actually, you may find better prices or packages at PC Fair for the modem/router. The only thing that won’t change much in terms of pricing is the bluetooth dongle. It’s been a while since I’ve actually been to Low Yatt to scout the prices. However, if you want to find all the items you listed under one roof, that’s the place to go. Over recent years, there’s been a rise in popularity of IT supermarts. Two such shops that will have all the items above are ALL I.T. and SRI Computers (neither of them have a presence in the PC Fair). They charge a slight premium compared to other outlets but they are convenient. However, if you have the time and some company, walking the rounds is a good idea. That way, you can get a feel of the prices before trying to bargain them down when you finally decide to make the purchase.

If it was me, I would pay a visit to Low Yatt a week before the PC Fair, then walk the fair grounds to compare prices before finally deciding on a purchase. But that’s only because I enjoy the process and the bargain hunt. That might not be your cup of tea. There are people prefer to pay slightly more for the convenience.

Question: Will I be able to get this at the PC fair at a cheaper price than at retail outlets (lowyat, etc)?

Could you recommend other brands?

Also, I’m looking for a wireless router/modem. Someone has recommended D link. Is this a value-for-money brand or can you recommend some other.

TIA for all comments and advice!

G: Hi Bridget. Let’s go through this in turn.

1. Bluetooth dongles: The price of a bluetooth dongle starts from about RM15 and varies depending on quality and range. There isn’t a particular brand that I recommend. I’ve used both the cheap and expensive versions and they function equally well. Neither have broken down on me yet. While range (e.g. coverage) may be a factor, it isn’t really a big deal. I don’t see myself using bluetooth devices from one end of the house while my computer sits in the other end.

2. Bluetooth Headset/Mic: Unfortunately, I’m not too familiar with peripherals of this sort. Everything’s built in on my notebook and I don’t usually play with mics/headsets much less the bluetooth enabled variety. Anyone with better knowledge want to provide some insight on this subject?

3. Will you get a better price from PC Fair? Probably not. Prices of computer peripherals don’t fluctuate too much in and out of computer fairs. The reason being that the prices of these devices are cheap to begin with. There is little to benefit from waiting for the fair or even making the journey. Probably the only advantage the fair has over other times is that all the vendors are gathered under one roof. This means you get a lot more variety and choice. If you do decide to get one from the fair, I do suggest that you get one from a stall that has an outlet near your residence. This is to avoid hassles in the future in case you need to claim warranty.

4. Wireless Router/Modem: By modem, I assume an ADSL broadband modem. There are variations to consider. Do you want the WiFi Router and modem to be in a single unit or separate units? There are advantages to both. A single unit means you require only one power socket, there’ll be less hassle in configuration, and there will be fewer wires and cables sticking out all over the place. On the downside, when a single unit breaks down, it means you’ll have to fork out more money to replace it. The opposite is true if you choose to buy a WiFi router and an ADSL modem as separate units.

Again prices vary and there are many manufacturers and brands to choose from. D-Link, Level-1, Linksys, Aztech, and Belkin to name a few. I personally use an Aztech ADSL modem (about RM95) with a Level-1 WiFi router (RM135 when I bought it). There really isn’t much to be said in terms of value-for-money. All the manufacturers have models to suit different needs at different costs. While some models in the same product group are more expensive than others, you do get some value-add for the extra dough you pay.

What’s more important when choosing a WiFi Router is your needs. Do you require a wide area of coverage? Most basic entry level models (such as the one I’m currently using) is sufficient to cover an averaged sized home. D-Link is usually a little more pricey than the other manufacturers. That said, a budget of RM150 will get you a fairly decent entry level model with ‘lifetime warranty’. Don’t be fooled. The term lifetime warranty is only valid as long as the model is still in production. The cool thing about PC Fairs is that they usually bundle in free gifts or have attractive packages. For example, when I bought my router, they gave an introductory rebate of RM10 and threw in a booster antenna that doubled the range of the router.

If you have an aging PC that isn’t WiFi enabled, you might also like to look for a WiFi dongle. These go for about RM75 but they may offer a better purchase for purchase price (e.g. a package deal for buying both the router and dongle). While most routers come with 4 LAN ports, I find it troublesome to trail LAN cables across the room. Some might argue that the router will most likely be sitting in the same room next to the desktop. However, I really don’t fancy leaving a WiFi router switched on next to my bed when I sleep at night. I place my WiFi router in the middle of the house which is pretty distant from the old desktop.

That about covers it. I know they are not exactly straight up answers but as I said before, it’s mostly about choice and what suits you best. What’s value for money is subject to interpretation and depends on your needs. Personally, I usually go for the cheapest model (or the most attractive package at the cheapest price). So far that has worked out pretty well. The peripherals that I’ve bought over the years have served me well.

Considering that you’re looking for several items, you might like to hunt around for a shop that stocks all of them. That way, you can get them from the same dealer and bargain for a better price. Good luck and happy hunting.

G: Right on :)