END OF THE QUEST

The quest has ended. I have managed to install a dual boot Win XP Pro and Mac OSX on the MSI Wind. Using this tutorial from MSI Wind forums. It was just a breeze, finished the installation within half an hour. But i did a mistake of not removing the recovery partition, making the MSI Wind unbootable. It is supposed to be rectified easily by using Ubuntu 8.04 Live USB stick, to make the windows partition bootable. However since i don't have a good internet connection at that point of time, i made a mess of the installation. So, i have to remove or reformat the whole HD and do a complete installation of both OS.

To install Win XP for the MSI Wind, i need to use a USB method using USB multiboot software and download the whole Win XP Pro CD into the 4GB USB Stick. It took about an hour for a complete installation. Then the HD is repartitioned using Partition Magic 8.0 into 4 partition. One for Win XP Pro, one for Mac OSX, one for data and one for the MSIWindOSX86.iso. Then i folllowed the tutorial again. However at this point of time, i already have a bootable Ubuntu 8.04 live with me. The Mac OSX installation was a breeze, completed within half an hour. After the complete installation, the MSI is unbootable. However managed to reboot using Ubuntu 8.04 live USB stick and i make the Win XP partition bootable. After that, using Darwin kernel, i managed to dual boot the Win XP and Mac OSX for the MSI Wind.

However the MSIWindOSX86.iso is using a 10.5.4 version of OSX. Haven't got time to upgrade to 10.5.6, since you need to use severel kernel or kext help methods. But i am happy with 10.5.4, which is good enough for me.

Next plan, is to upgrade the SATA HD to a 320GB SATA HD and do a complete installation of both Win XP Pro and Mac OSX again. That would be in a few months time. For the time being, the 160GB HD is good enough for me. Will be using an 80GB or 160GB USB portable HD for my OSIRIX datasets, since it will also be hooked into my Macbook too.

The Leopard HD Install Helper is a great help. It reduces the difficulty of using a USB stick or the need to buy a USB DVD drive. By using the Leopard HD Install Helper, a dual boot Laptop or PC, can be easily be done either using the Kalyway DVD or even IATKOS DVD.

With this Leopard HD Install Helper, I will try to do a dual boot on my Dell D420 and Lenovo G400 laptop at home. Need to find a time first to do that.

FAIR OR UNFAIR?

Life is full of choices. Its your own decision to make. As for me I have a choice to stay in government service or join a private institution. Both has the pros and cons. But what I want to discuss now is not the pros and cons of working in a government institution or working in a private institution. This is about the care of patients in a government or private hospitals. Let me start in my specialty first, ie Radiology Department before we discuss about other departments.

In most private hospitals, there are usually one radiologist as compared to a government hospital in which there are at least 4 radiologists. The number of radiologist and the efficiency of the radiologist will usually determine the patient care.

1. Reporting.
In PH (Private Hospitals), reports are done fast, usually within hours after the examination was performed. In Government Hospital (GH), reports are usually late, taking up to 3 days. But usually, urgent cases are also reported within hours too. I usually try to finish all my reports within the same day too. Most of the time in PH, you can report comfortably and decisively. However sometimes, probably less than 5% of cases, you are not sure or undecided. You are pressed to release the report since both the patient and attending doctor are waiting. You don't have the luxury to discuss with other colleagues or to refer to reference books in a very short time. So do you release a vague report or you delay the report? In a GH, you will have the luxury to discuss with other colleagues or to refer to specific reference books. If you release a vague report, will the patient care be compromised? So in this case, will a GH patient get a better care than a PH patient?

2. Image Quality
In most PH, machines are usually cheaper than in GH, since profits are more important. You tend to get less quality images. This could be attributed to less quality machine or less trained radiographer. So, when reporting on these images, do you think you will give a good report? In cases with less trained radiographer, usually PH radiographer do multitasking. So they tend not to be very expert in all modality. In a GH, usually there is a radiographer who is expert in certain modality. This specialized radiographer usually tend to give you high quality images. If you get low quality images in GH, you will usually ask them to repeat and repeat it until you get one. Or if you still can't get a good image, you may postponed the study t the next day with a better sedation. In PH, when you get a poor quality images, sometimes you don't have the time to call your radiographer to repeat the study due to the bulk of films in front of you waiting to be reported. Even when you ask your radiographer t repeat it, you might not get what you want due to the less experience in doing the imaging. It might not be his or her fault. It could be due to lack of experience in doing that type of case. So in this case, will a GH patient get a better care than a PH patient?

3. Physician's feedback
In a GH, we usually have weekly radiological conferences. In these conferences we will update ourselves on the findings of our reports in comparison to the operative findings. We also discuss on what the physicians or surgeons want in the report. With this, there will be learning in both ways. In a PH there is rarely a conference or any discussion with the physicians or surgeons, unless you make your own effort to ask. Sometimes you don't have the time to do it. With this, you will never know whether your report is correct or not? And also you might not learn new things from the physician or surgeon. So, in this case, will a GH patient get a better care than a PH patient?

I will add somemore when I can think of something else.
Comment??

LOCUM PART 2

One of the busiest radiology department I have worked in. You are alone, reporting 40 plain films, 7 MRIs, 6 CT scans and doing 20 ultrasounds. Luckily fluroscopy cases are very rare. All must be finished by 5 pm on the same day. It seems that you are doing the work of 4 radiologists, if it is a government hospital. I don't know how the resident radiologist can cope with this all this years. I couldn't cope with it, too tired after a few days. Can't wait for all of this to end.

MSI WIND U100 : The Best Macbook Nano

Is it true? Maybe it is true, since the recently released realtek Wifi driver for MSI Wind, makes it a complete working Macbook Nano. It is a very good buy now, selling at RM1699 with a 6 cell battery. Upgrading another 1 GB RAM, is another RM50 adding up. However since MSI Wind is also using a WD 2.5 inch SATA Hard Disk, upgrading the HD would be a breeze. So for you out there who wants a very big HD to keep all your data, you can upgrade it to a 320GB SATA hard disk. A WD Passport portable HD 320GB costs around RM350, about 2 months ago. Would be much cheaper now. So in total, upgrading the RAM to 2GB, HD to 320GB, the total cost of the upgraded Macbook Nano would cost you RM2000++. Anyone for a Macbook Nano???

CELCOM ONLINE REGISTRATION

As mentioned in my previous post, I did an online registration for Celcom Postpaid Executive 20 package together with the Unlimited 3G package. This registration was done on the 1st December 2008. After more than 2 days, i didn't receive any call from celcom about the delivery of my SIM card. I went to Celcom Centre in Kuantan, yesterday. Checked with the officer in charge. They couldn't find any information about my registration at all, even though my credit card was already charged. I forwarded her, my completed registration form, for checking. She will check with KL Main office about my registration and will inform me back tomorrow (Tuesday 9th December 2008). For this, thumbs down to Celcom again. It seems, that the online registration service is not connected to their online registration network. Peh!!!

HP MINI 1000

I am really spoilt for choice now. HP had just released its update of their netbook. The old Mini Note 2133 using VIA chipset was updated to a new Atom based Intel netbook, ie the HP Mini 1000. The specs are quite impressive, reviewed here by www.notebookreview.com. The reviewer had given it an Editor's choice due to a good keyboard and good screen. However the disadvantage of it is that you need to buy a proprietary adapter for the VGA port and also it is using a slow 1.8 inch 4200 rpm HD, maximum at 60GB. Now, need to find whether anyone had done a Hackintosh on it. It shouldn't be difficult since it is also using an Atom processor too. Will need to take a closer look at it during the PC Fair this weekend.

CELCOM 3G INSIDE BUILDINGS

I have mixed experiences for Celcom 3G signals inside buildings. As a radiologists, we usually worked inside rooms, mainly barium plastered rooms to shield the radiation from radiation emitting sources such as CT or Angiograms. Have mixed experiences on Celcom signals. In Kuantan Hospital, when i am inside the room, i only get GPRS signal. No 3G. Whereas, for Digi, I managed to get EDGE signal. However in Cheras, within the hospital building, Digi signal is very poor, to get a GPRS signal is very good already. However for Celcom, I can get full bar HSDPA signal. In Batu Pahat, Johor, I only get a GPRS signal inside the room. However for Digi, i can get an EDGE signal, even though it is only 2 bars. At home in Kuantan, as i mentioned in the previous post, I can get 3G signal for Celcom. Maybe this is due to the positioning of the Celcom and Digi towers. Or is it due to the wavelength of the Telco signals? Only a technical person can tell me about this.

CELCOM 3G AND HSDPA IN DAMANSARA KUANTAN

Mobile internet anyone? Since using a smartphone for 4 years, i need to have an always stable GPRS line with me. I have been subscribing to an unlimited package since then. For the last 3 years, i am using Digi EDGE as my primary line together with the RM66 unlimited data package. But ever since a few months ago, this digi edge has becoming unstable. I couldn't get signals or no EDGE in certain areas. As you know, Digi coverage is not as good as other telco coverage. Since I also don't have any internet line at home, i also need to have another unlimited data package for my kids at home. I noted recently, probably since October 2008, Celcom has increased its 3G coverage in Pahang. My house has already been covered with 3G. I don't want Streamyx or Slowmyx, have bad experience with them. Very unstable line. Digi has been very slow to increase its coverage in Pahang, it is still GPRS at home. Due to this, i terminated my supplementary RM33 SIM for data with Digi and subscribed to the Celcom 3G line at RM68. This is for use at home. My children don't need the HSDPA speed. However sometimes, we got the HSDPA signal at home. Thumbs up to Celcom in Pahang. Thumbs down to Digi in Pahang.

LOCUM

My first locum after 6 months. Do i need to do locum? Yes, I need to do it for the money. But the job is very dull and boring. My hands is getting itchy to do all the interventional procedures which I have been doing for the last few months. I also need it to polish back my general radiology skills. After doing subspecialty in interventional radiology since August 2008, i didn't do much general radiography, mammography, ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan readings. 4 months without doing all this, will makes you rusty. So, this is a good reason for me to do locum, besides the money. Haha! Now to find another good reason for it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

It's my birthday today. I am one year older today. Got a present from my wife and children during lunch time. Just wondering, should i get a present for myself. Should i change my smartphone? Nah! Both my Treo 750v and Dopod D810 is working wonderfully. Couldn't find any new smartphones which could replace my Treo 750v. Should i get a new notebook? Nah! My new Macbook 12 inch with 4GB RAM and 250GB HD is working well, using dual boot with Windows XP Pro. For portability, i am using my Asus EEE PC 900. New notebooks doesn't interest me at all now. New smartphones also doesn't give me new adrenaline high. Maybe i am getting older. Trips to Low Yat or PC Fair is getting very boring now. Nothing new excites me. So, i don't think i need a birthday present for myself.

QUEST FOR A MACBOOK NANO

After using a Macbook since the last 3 months, i need to carry it around with me replacing my 2kg Dell Latitude D420. A Macbook usually weighs at least 3 kg, if you include the charger. Due to this, i will usually leave it at home or in the office and carry the sub kg Asus EEEPC 900 instead
Since netbook becomes a hot seller after the successful story of Asus EEEPC 700, many hackintosher managed to build a netbook running Mac OSX Leopard. These Mac OSX netbook is usually called a Macbook Nano. However most of this netbook will suffer some non functioning hardwares, depending on which model, due to unavailability of Mac drivers for the hardware. You can use either use the Kalyway 10.5.2 which can be upgraded using the Kalyway 10.5.3. Some also use the IATKOS v4. However most of them will use the MSIWindOSx86.iso, which is actually made for MSIWind.

Below are the few guides on installing a Mac OSX leopard on a netbook.
1. MSI Wind

2. Acer Aspire One

3. Lenovo S10

4. Dell Mini 9

5. Asus EEEPC 901 or 1000

Out of these 5 netbooks, Lenovo S10 had the most impressive specs which include an express card slot. However Lenovo S10 will suffer a non working Ethernet. Acer Aspire One is also a good candidate with a working ethernet. However the specs is not that good, with no bluetooth and only a 0.3 MP camera. Besides, the wifi won't work unless you change to a Dell 1390 or 1490 mini PCI card. Asus EEEPC 901 also suffer the similar fate of Lenovo S10 with non functioning ethernet.

So, you are left with either MSI Wind or Dell Mini 9. MSI Wind has an impressive specifications similar to Dell Mini 9, with the only difference of a much bigger hard disk (using a 2.5 inch notebook HD). It has its own MSIWindOSx86.iso which is about 4.3GB in size. The only problem with MSI Wind, is that the native wifi card won't work at all. You usually need either a Dell mini PCI card model 1390 or 1490 to get the wifi working.

At this point of time, for me, the best candidate for a Macbook Nano is Dell Mini 9. The specs are quite good with built in BT, 1.3MP camera and Wifi. Only that the maximum HD is 16GB which is a SSD. SSD would be better for a netbook, since it can stand more impact and fall compared to a normal HD used by MSIWind. Besides, other than the HD, it share similar specs with MSI Wind, so you can also use the same MSIWindOSx86.iso DVD for this hackintoshing purpose. The best thing is that, most of the hardware will work, including the wifi.

With this in mind, i went to the Malaysian Dell website to order my customized Dell Mini 9. Upon logging in, i found that the Dell Mini 9 is only sold at Dell Retailers, not online. For retailers, the Dell Mini 9 specifications are standard with only 0.3MP camera and 8GB SSD. I emailed Dell Malaysia asking whether i can order a customized Dell Mini 9. Got a reply after a few days later. No, we don't sell Dell Mini 9 online since it can only be sold by Dell Retailers with the standard specifications. My only hope to get a customized Dell Mini 9 is to get is from ebay or ask my cousin in US to buy it for me there.

However MSI Wind is also a good candidate for Macbook Nano. Only that i need to buy the Dell miniPCi Wifi card first. I will take a careful look at MSI Wind on my next trip to Low Yat Plaza. Meanwhile will be searching the Dell miniPCI card in ebay before that trip.

NTFS EDITOR FOR MAC OSX

Now you are having both Mac OSX and Windows in your Macbook. Usually Windows Hard Disk partition is in NTFS format. Mac OSX has the capability to read and edit either FAT or FAT32 HD format. However for the NTFS format, it can only read it, but not edit. This would cause a problem for you, since you would like to do some editing of the files that you have saved in the Windows NTFS hard disk, when you are in the Mac OSX boot.

NTFS also has several advantages over FAT32 format, which you can read yourself elsewhere. FAT32 also has a limitation of 32GB only. You need to use a NTFS format if your partition is bigger than 32GB.

There are two ways to do this, both using a third party software.
1. Using McFuse and NTFS-3G, which are both freeware. You need to install them both to make it work. However after reading the instructions, it looks a little bit complicated for an amateur like me.
2. Using Paragon NTFS, which is a shareware costing around USD40. It is very easy to install. After the installation, you just need to restart your Mac, and it works immediately. There is a trial version available which runs for 10 days only.

So, now you can do the editing of the files that you have saved in your Windows NTFS hard disk without doing a transfer to a USB thumbdrive.

Next is to get a partition software for Mac, so i can keep all my documents folder (Home) in it and use that partition in both Mac and Windows. That would be great. Anyone can suggest me one?

DUAL BOOTING YOUR MACBOOK OR MAC

You want both Mac OSX and Windows in your Macbook. This is due to several reasons. Some of the softwares that you have previously doesn't work in Mac OSX. Even then, if it works with Mac OSX, you still prefer it to be done in a Windows environment. Or you are being greedy to have it both. With Mac OSX 10.5 ie Leopard it can be done easily using Boot Camp.

Just open utilities from the finder. Click on Boot Camp Assistant. First, print the installation guidelines. This would be very useful during the setup. Then click continue. You first need to partition the hard disk to accomodate the Windows installation. Select the size of the hard disk that you want to allocate to Windows. About 20GB is good enough for Windows. If you want more it is your choice. Then you follow the instructions given. This is when the printed manual becomes handy. You can only use Windows XP Home or Pro, Service Pack 2 or later (better to have Service Pack 3) or any type of Windows Vista. I did a Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 installation which i later upgrade to Service Pack 3 via Microsoft Online update. The good thing about Boot Camp, if you don't like the Windows Partition, you can just remove it also using the Boot Camp Assistant. Please refer to the manual.

After the complete installation, you need to put in the Mac OSX DVD (you can find it in the small box that comes with your Macbook). This DVD will install all the drivers needed for all the hardwares in your Macbook to work with Windows. After doing it a few times (installing and removing Windows from Mac), i found that Windows installation is much easier and faster on a Mac due to availability of this DVD.

Next you need to do a software updates. First you need to update the usual Windows programme using Microsoft Update. Then you need to update the Apple Software (from the program file Window). Since you want to use Windows, you need to have a good antivirus, spyware programme, etc. I am using Kaspersky Anti Virus 9.0 for this.

So, now you have a dual booth Mac OSX and Windows XP or Vista in your Macbook. However there is another option of running Windows in a Mac OSX without rebooting your Macbook. This is to use a third party software such as Parallel or VMWare Fusion. However both of these softwares are sharewares. Boot Camp is free and preloaded in your Mac.

END NOTE FOR MAC

Have been using it for my reference manager for the past few months, after getting a tutorial from Dr. Jamaluddin. End Note for Mac is slightly more difficult to use as compared to Windows. For windows, it is just click on the download citation manager and then open the file in End Note, the article will be downloaded into End Note. For Mac, it need to be downloaded to text. Then we have to import the text file. Until now, i haven't managed to import any reference yet. As for the Microsoft Word integration, i couldn't find any link for the End Note integration.

So, as for now, when i want to download new reference, i would use End Note for Windows. Then i will copy or sync the End Note file for my paper into my Mac.
This is possible since i am using Boot Camp in my Macbook, with both Mac and Windows XP Pro installed. For sync, i would use Chronosync.

This will continue, unless someone can teach me how to use End Note for Mac. Or when i have a good knowledge and skills to use End Note for Mac.
This is the weakness of Mac.

USB BLUETOOTH ON EEE PC 900

I just wanted a bluetooth in my EEE PC 900 just for the sake of completeness. You want everything available. Since bluetooth is missing in EEE PC 900, i kept just thinking how to install it. So bought myself a USB microbluetooh which extends about 1 cm beyond the usb port. So i went to EEE PC wiki. Used the instructions given.

dmesg

sudo hciconfig

But i am stucked at the "sudo hciconfig". Command not supported. Searched the forums, not very helpful and some complex advice. Later on found out that actually hciconfig tool is not installed in EEE PC 900. So, what i did is doing the update of the EEE.

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install bluez-utils

Then confirm and say yes to everything. After this only you will have the hciconfig. Then continue back what was mentioned in the EEE PC wiki.

sudo hciconfig

This will list the bluetooth interfaces.

sudo hciconfig hci0 up

This is to activate the bluetooth.

sudo hciconfig hci0 down

This is to stop or deactivate the bluetooth.

So, you can use bluetooth with your EEE PC, it was very easy to install.

I need to remember these three command to activate or deactivate my BT.

sudo hciconfig
sudo hciconfig hci0 up
sudo hciconfig hci0 down

So, whats next. A lot more things can be done with the bluetooth such as:
- using your Nokia phone or WM6 smartphone internet sharing or 3G via bluetooth.
- using a BT GPS
- using A2DP with your stereo BT headphone.

This is for later. Might start with the BT GPS first since i already have an internet connection with my Sierra 875u USB modem, which make the internet sharing option not very important.

Hehe!

WINDOWS XP PRO ON EEE PC 900

Tried an experiment few days ago to install Windows XP Professional on my EEE PC. It took me nearly half a day since i need to use a USB thumbdrive since i don't have a USB CD or DVD drive around. Installing Windows through USB thumbdrive is painstakingly very slow. One complete installation need around 1 hour. However later on i have problems in making the EEE PC to dual boot. With the problems of the dual boot, i later on decided to have only Windows XP for the EEE PC. So, i have now a Windows XP EEE PC. Tried to use it for two days. The boot time for the EEE PC is very slow, which takes forever for me (about 3 minutes). However with Windows XP i have the advantage of installing other softwares such as SPSS and etc.

So, after two days, due to slowness of the boot time, i decided to switch back to Xandros. The USB thumbdrive method to recover the Xandros from the supplied DVD is very easy. It took me about half an hour to reinstall the Xandros on my EEE PC and also format the primary and secondary drive. Currently very happy with the Xandros EEE PC. Now, this post is typed from my EEE PC with Xandros. The boot time is very fast around 15 to 20 seconds.

Will never install Windows XP again in my EEE PC.

Haha.

WELCOME TO RAMADHAN

Today is the first day of Ramadhan. To all muslims out there, happy Ramadhan. This year, it will be the first time, my second daughter will be fasting. She is seven years old now. Luckily for the first day of Ramadhan this year is a school holiday, post "Merdeka". Hope that she won' be tired for the first day of fasting.

LEFT RADIUS ULNA RADIOGRAPH

A teenager with long history of painless swelling on the foreram.

Findings
A soft tissue swelling seen anterior to the distal radius and ulna with some areas of calcification within. There is also associated bowing of the distal radius. No evidence of periosteal reaction. No associated lytic or sclerotic bone lesions.

Diagnosis:
Soft tissue tumour, most likely haemangioma.
MRI confirmed intramuscular haemangioma.

CT SCAN OF ABDOMEN

A 35 year old lady with severe abdominal pain and continous vomiting.

Findings:
Typical appearences of bowel in bowel sign indicating presence of intussusception. Minimal free fluid in the pelvis and paracolic gutters.

Diagnosis:
Jejuno-jejunal intussusception which is usually self limiting.

Progress:
The symptoms resolved after the barium follow through examination in which the initial presence of gastric outlet obstruction sign seen resolved completely. The patient also said that the pain completely resolved. No more vomiting seen.

LARGE POST COMMUNICATING ARTERY ANEURYSM

A 3D RA image from Philips FD2010 Angiography machine showing a large bilobed posterior communicating artery aneurysm in which the the posterior cerebral artery seems to arise from the aneurysm itself. This is a very challenging aneurysm for an endosvascular treatment since if the aneurysm was coiled, it would sacrifice the posterior cerebral artery. Another option is to stent the posterior cerebral artery and then coil the aneurysm. After discussions, the best option is to clip the aneurysm until the origin of the posterior cerebral artery by neurovascular surgeon.