Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Eric Theng

Microsoft Office 2016 for Windows 10

Eric Theng — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 19:14:39 +0800

Bought a new laptop for myself and thinking of purchasing Office 2016.

I'm a pre-U student and there will be many presentations to do.
I only need PowerPoint, Excel, Word. Which one is the best and cheapest that suits my needs? I don't care about the updates, just want the Office 2016 and use it for a longer period of time without having to pay yearly (I want one-time purchase).

Emphasizing it again :
1. PowerPoint, Excel, Word
2. One PC only
3. One-time purchase, not a subscription or need to renew after a period of time
4. Should be cheaper

Which should I buy and how much now?

Telegram discussion group - STPM 2017/2018

Eric Theng — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 14:40:36 +0800

I am thinking of creating a Telegram group (or WhatsApp) which purposes are to share info/Qs/tips on the subjects, learn from each other, discuss HOTS Qs and get homework help.

Anybody in? If it's a good idea, we can create other subjects' group chat as well. Just that since I'm taking bio I'll be in Bio, Chem & Maths T groups.

If you are interested, state your TG ID.

Fix Galaxy Note (android) bootloop with ODIN

Eric Theng — Tue, 09 May 2017 19:14:50 +0800

I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (GT N8000) it's an old model (before the 2014 edition) and I bought it in 2013. It died last year and it's been a year without it T_T I use it for educational purposes like taking notes, save documents and surf Internet.

It has bootloop problem, when I turn it on it will stay at Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 logo on the screen and nothing else, just that until battery's empty or turn it off while it's charging.

I can boot into download mode, recovery mode no. When I boot into recovery there's an Android icon that appears for a few seconds only then the screen just back to Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 screen again.

I tried solutions from various websites but no luck, and I don't understand the steps (as long as instructions are clear and I get my tablet back to life, I don't need to try to understand this 'engineering' thing, complicated)

I attempted flashing this and that following the instructions but failed... When the tab auto-reboot, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 screen appears and stay like that (still in boot loop). Or do I need to wait for half an hour for it after finishing the flashing? Is it really like this after flashing?
Anybody can give full instructions? I really need help

Difference of taking 4 or 5 STPM subjects?

Eric Theng — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 19:25:20 +0800

I'm going to Form 6 science stream. I heard that normally people take 4 subjects. But I think I wanna take 5 :

1. Pengajian Am (I don't want this, just that it's compulsory)
2. Mathematics (What do people call it for sci stream? Pure Maths?)
3. Biology
4. Chemistry
5. Physics

Please share your opinion on this. People say it's tough, and taking extra one makes it even tougher like you are digging your own grave unless you can really do it. I have no experience so I don't know how it's like studying for STPM.
My weakest subject is Physics and my strongest is Biology. Wait, I think my poorest is the Maths. Modern Maths SPM is the easiest and always been the easiest. I'm talking about Additional Maths. I scored Maths A+ easily, while Add. Maths only A in SPM. FYI my teacher didn't teach us all the chapters, only taught half of all the chapters, in both F4 and F5 (like 6/11). So during my time I studied Add. Maths all by myself, and managed... But obviously not that enough, as you know, Add. Maths SPM grading is pretty low, A might be around 60.

Even while writing this my mood is pretty down... I think I am quite capable of memorizing but because some subjects are "messed up by always-absent-teacher" in my secondary school years, I think maybe I can't catch up in some parts. From that experience, I learned that choosing the right school is important, I seriously don't want it to happen again.

So how is the pointer calculation if I take 5 subjects? All summed up divided by 5 or 4 taking the best between Biology or Physics.
I read a post somewhere that says taking 5 subjects can make a huge 0.75 difference when the total pointer is calculated rather than 4 subjects (I forgot what's the comparison of each subjects' pointer there)... But what do you think and suggest?

Plans on pursuing medicine from after SPM?

Eric Theng — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 20:26:21 +0800

Hello guys and gals! I really need help right now. There are many different paths and universities/colleges out there and I just don't know what's the best (and safest) for me that want to pursue medicine. I am a 2016 SPM leaver.

My SPM result :
BM : A
BI : A
Maths : A+
Add. Maths : A
Sejarah : A
Biology : A+
Chemistry : A
Physics : A-
P. Moral : A+

I checked the matriculation offer and I didn't get it. Well ofc... It's very tough for non-bumi to be selected to enter matric. (I am chinese + pinoy). I only got Form 6 Science Stream offer ...
I read a few posts here that say STPM is the toughest exam in Asia and it's quite risky to take as not only is it hard but usually the universities will look at matric grads than STPM. I don't know if this is really true but I do think it's kinda unfair since STPM is tougher.

I recently found Malacca Manipal Medicine University (MMMU) and I am really interested. But now, I just don't know if I can make it in STPM, I mean what if I scored good pointer but not accepted to local universities since I'm an STPM grad... As they prioritize matric/asasi grads more... And what are some great universities (local & private) to do medicine for STPM grads?

I started feeling not well after knowing that I didn't get matriculation, head is dizzy and feel like I'll have a fever anytime soon... Maybe because of disappointment... I know I could've done better T_T I will study real harder after this