SONY VAIO

Friday September 5, 2008

Sony recalls some Vaio portables

KUALA LUMPUR : If you are using a Sony Vaio VGN-TZ notebook computer, you will need to check if the model is among the 438,000 portables being recalled worldwide by the Japanese manufacturer.

The voluntary recall of the products is due to a potential hazard that could cause the notebooks to overheat and possibly catch fire.

Sony Malaysia said customers here should go to the company website — http://tinyurl.com/5kb2tr — to check the list of affected Vaios and to find out what they should do if their notebook model is listed.

Affected customers will benefit from free service inspection and repairs at the Sony Service Centre here, the company said.

Reuters has reported that this is one of the biggest computer recalls in the world since 2006 when Dell recalled 4.1 million notebook computer batteries because they could overheat and catch fire.

It also reported that Sony has received 15 reports of overheating, including one of a consumer who suffered a minor burn.

The flaw is found in Sony’s VGN-TZ100, VGN-TZ200, VGN-TZ300 and VGN-TZ2000 series computers.

According to the Reuters report, the problem is related to “irregularly positioned wires near the computer’s hinge and/or dislodged screw inside the hinge” that can cause a short circuit and overheat.

Sony has initiated a voluntary programme to perform a free inspection and, if necessary, a repair to ensure these units meet its high-quality standards.

The Reuters report said Sony has been dogged in recent years by recalls of laptop computer batteries amid concerns they would overheat and catch fire.

In 2006, Dell, Apple, Lenovo, Toshiba and some other PC makers recalled more than eight million Sony batteries, the report said.

Sony, said Reuters, declined to comment on the potential cost it will incur to repair the computers.

SOURCE: http://star-techcentral.com

NATURAL GAS VEHICLE (NGV)

City Hall to go natural

By Pearl Lee August 14, 2008 Categories: News

AS part of its cost-cutting exercise, City Hall will install natural gas vehicle (NGV) tanks for 150 of its vehicles by the end of this year. The exercise will help City Hall save about RM70,000 a month on fuel.

For starters, Mayor Datuk Ab Hakim Borhan’s official vehicle, a Proton Perdana, was fitted with the tank. Ab Hakim said the installation cost ranges between RM5,000 and 7,000 for the 65- and 75-litre tanks.

Among the vehicles slated to be installed with the NGV tanks are 110 units of Nissan X-Trail 2.5L (A), six Nissan X-Trail 2.0 L(A), three Nissan Sentra 1.6L SG-L AT, one Naza Ria and 30 Mitsubishi Pajero V31 VNDERM.

He said City Hall had 1,500 vehicles that ran on petrol and may be converted to NGV eventually.

“We spend RM1.5million a year on fuel — RM370,000 on petrol, RM900,000 on diesel and the remainder on fuel for motorbikes,” Ab Hakim said.

“It will cost us between RM10 to RM14 for a full tank for 110-140km.”

He said City Hall was negotiating with Petronas to build a NGV station in Cheras for City Hall vehicles. This is to avoid the long queues at petrol stations. The cost of building the station, he added, could be recovered within 25 months.

SOURCE: http://www.mmail.com.my

5 STEPS TO SEMINAR MARKETING

5 Steps to Seminar Marketing


Autor: hseitz



More than likely, you've attended a seminar, workshop or live training event at some point in your life. Whether you've been to a "Tony Robbins-type" event with thousands of people or a much smaller, workshop format with only a handful of people and lots of interaction. But, have you ever thought about marketing your own seminar?


It's actually simpler than you might think to market your own seminar. You just need to know the steps to a successful seminar and, most importantly, how to get people to come to your seminar.


Here are 5 things you must know about seminar marketing before you begin marketing your event.


1. What is your seminar or event going to be about? Your seminar can be about anything on which you are knowledgeable. From health and wellness to real estate to the internet even to dog grooming or gardening! The most important thing is that you have a passion for what you're going to be teaching at your seminar.


2. When/where is your seminar going to be held?Believe it or not, this is one of the most critical components to a successful seminar. There are many things to consider such as time of year, national holidays, weather, specific hotel chains, etc. But, it's important when planning your seminar to pay close attention to this step.


3. What is your seminar format?Will you have 100 people at your seminar or will you hold a seminar suited for 10-12 people? Either way, you can have a great event, but your strategy for one is much different than your strategy for the other.


4. How are you going to market your seminar?Depending on the type of event you are having, you may want to consider local networking activities and local media or you may opt to go on a more global scale with regard to your seminar marketing and utilize the Internet, direct mail, and mass media. Marketing is probably the most critical component to a successful seminar. Without "cheeks in those seats", you have no seminar!



5. What details are important while running your seminar?Getting people in your seats is the first step to a successful seminar, but equally important is the experience attendees have while AT your seminar. You want people to go home and tell their friends they have to attend your seminar, event or workshop. You want killer testimonials FROM your seminar to use in marketing and you want honest feedback to improve with each seminar you run.Follow these strategies and you are well on your way to a successful seminar.


Source: Free Articles