kopisty.com

Author: KopiByte

  • Maggi Goreng Mamak – Why You Can Never Cook Something This Good Yourself

    🧊 Intro: Hungry? Welcome to the Mamak

    Ahhh, the dreaded lunchtime hunger pangs… or the late-night stomach grumblings. That all-too-familiar feeling of “what to eat” — especially during the madness of lunch hour.

    After minutes of indecision, you let your muscle memory take over. Where do you end up?
    Yes — the mamak.

    🚗 The Journey Begins

    You drive in circles, hunting for a parking spot like it’s a national sport. Finally, you walk over to your favourite spot — in this case, one of the Curry House outlets.
    To me, this place is the best — flavour on point, relatively clean (a win in mamak standards), and maybe the proximity to Timberland Medical Centre keeps them extra tidy?

    You’re greeted by the usual chaos: finding a seat. The table spacing here? Designed for people with a BMI of 19 max. XD

    On the left — the nasi campur and briyani counter stares you down.

    🍜 The Order: It Escalates Fast

    I sat down, and without thinking, out came the words:
    “Megi goreng.”

    The waiters here? Masters of upselling. They press all the right buttons.
    So what did I end up with?

    • Maggi goreng kari
    • Telur mata
    • Fried chicken
    • Ice lemon tea (of course, sweet AF — “kurang manis” is a myth here 😅)

    Naturally, I wasn’t eating alone. My lovely company ordered the same. No regrets.

    🤤 The Arrival: Glorious

    Then it arrived.
    The maggi? Fried to mamak perfection. Fresh chilli. Keropok scattered on top.
    Fried chicken — hot and crispy.
    Egg yolk? Runny and dripping into the noodles.

    Mamak-style curry Maggi goreng with sunny side up egg and fried chicken on a plate
    🍜 Mamak-Style Curry Maggi Noodles with Sunny Side Up Egg and Crispy Fried Chicken

    And because it’s never enough, they also gave:

    • Kicap pedas manis
    • Sos cili (like, are we eating kampua now? 😂)

    “There are some things in life you just can’t recreate at home —
    Maggi goreng mamak is one of them.”
    — KopiByte

    🫓 But Wait… There’s Dessert

    You don’t go to a mamak and stop at just one plate.

    I went for a dessert course:

    • Roti canai planta cheese
    • Served with kari ikan and kari kambing

    The flavour? Ridiculously good.

    🛌 Outro: Food Coma Mode

    Goodbye diet.
    Hello food coma.

    Until next time, Curry House.

  • 🧩 iPad Air M1 Accessories: Let’s Talk USB-C Port

    One of the things that made my Dell Precision M4800 such a powerhouse was the sheer number of ports. Seriously, this thing was like a mini desktop with a port for everything. It had USB, HDMI, SD card slots—everything you could think of. I mean, I could practically connect an entire office setup to it without breaking a sweat.

    So, switching over to the iPad Air M1? Yeah, that’s a bit of a challenge. It only has one USB-C port. Just one. Let that sink in.

    🚀 The Specs of the USB-C Port on the iPad Air M1

    Let’s get into the nitty-gritty. The iPad Air M1 USB-C port isn’t just for charging. It’s got a few tricks up its sleeve:

    • Charging
    • DisplayPort (so you can hook it up to an external monitor)
    • USB 3 (up to 10Gb/s)

    Yep, 10Gb/s speed. So, this is USB-C 3.2, which is a nice upgrade if you’re coming from older USB versions. You can transfer files pretty fast and even connect an external display without much hassle.

    ⚡ Charging & Power Output

    Now, let’s talk about charging, because that’s always a concern when it comes to USB-C.

    The iPad Air M1 can accept charging speeds of up to 20 watts. Not super fast, but it’s good enough for regular use. If you’re hoping to power up at lightning speeds, this might not be your best bet. But hey, it gets the job done if you’re not in a rush.

    When it comes to power output, the USB-C port can handle a few accessories, but keep in mind it’s not as powerful as a USB 4 Thunderbolt port. Still, for day-to-day use, it’s solid. You can connect things like:

    • USB thumb drives (great for quick file transfers)
    • External SSDs (yes, your portable storage can work here)
    • Charging accessories like AirPods, Apple Watch, Bluetooth headphones, and fitness trackers
    • A USB-C hub (because you’ll probably need more ports, right?)

    💼 What Can You Power or Charge with the iPad Air M1’s USB-C Port?

    So, what can you actually connect to the iPad Air’s USB-C port? Well, it’s mostly for low-power accessories, but here’s a list of what it can easily handle:

    • USB thumb drives for quick data access
    • External SSDs for storing large files or media
    • Charging smaller devices like AirPods, Apple Watch, and Bluetooth headphones
    • A USB-C hub to add extra ports (because who doesn’t need more ports?)

    It’s definitely not as robust as a Thunderbolt port, but it’s still pretty useful for everyday accessories. Just keep in mind that larger devices (like another iPad or phone) might not charge efficiently, and you could end up draining the iPad’s battery instead.

    Final Thoughts

    Switching from a beastly laptop like the Dell Precision M4800 to the iPad Air M1 means a lot of compromises, especially when it comes to ports. But don’t be fooled—the USB-C on the iPad isn’t a slouch. It handles basic tasks and accessories well, even though it’s not as powerful as the ports we’re used to on laptops.

    If you’re looking to use your iPad as a laptop replacement, the USB-C port will definitely get you by—just don’t expect to power all your devices or use it for high-end tasks. But for everyday work, it’s more than capable.

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  • Can an iPad Replace Your Laptop? I’m Putting It to the Test

    💻 Can an iPad with M1 Actually Replace a Laptop?

    I’ve been using a Dell Precision M4800 for years—and let me tell you, this thing is an absolute tank. 16GB RAM, SSD, handles everything I throw at it like a champ. Editing, multitasking, media—you name it.

    But it has two major flaws:

    • It weighs as much as a small child
    • The battery life? Think “plugged in forever” vibes

    So naturally, I started asking the Big Question:
    Can I replace this beast with something lighter, smaller, and portable—without losing my mind?

    🧱 1. Why I Started Looking for a Change

    It wasn’t about power—I already had that.
    What I wanted was:

    • Portability
    • All-day battery
    • Just enough performance to keep up with work and play

    I didn’t want a full-blown laptop again. I wanted something different. Something fun.
    Something that I could throw in a sling bag and forget it’s even there.

    🧱 2. The Magical M1 Chip

    If you’ve been anywhere near the Apple hype machine, you know the M1 chip is legendary.
    Crazy fast. Super efficient. Battery that lasts all day. Total game changer.

    But here’s the catch: it was mostly in MacBooks.
    And I didn’t want another laptop—I wanted a tablet.

    A touchscreen, Apple Pencil-ready, media-loving, light-as-a-feather kind of device.
    That’s when I started eyeing the iPads.

    🧱 3. Everyone Says “Don’t Do It”—So Naturally, I Did It

    Reddit threads?

    “You’ll regret it. Just get a MacBook.”

    YouTube videos?

    “Cool… but not quite a laptop.”

    Tech blogs?

    “Well, it depends on your workflow.” (Classic.)

    But here’s the thing—none of them were me.

    I figured: Let’s see if I can make it work. Worst case, it doesn’t. Best case? I’ve found a killer new setup.

    🧱 4. So I Bought… a 64GB iPad Air M1 with Cellular

    After testing a few iPads in-store, I realized something:
    Performance-wise, they’re all fast. The difference is mostly in price and features I don’t need.

    So I took a leap and grabbed this setup:

    • iPad Air M1
    • 64GB (yes, I’m living dangerously)
    • Cellular (so I’m not tied to Wi-Fi ever again)

    Why 64GB? Simple—I didn’t want to burn a hole in my wallet in case this whole thing flopped.
    But it’s still got the M1 chip, a clean display, and cellular freedom.
    Oh, and I got it refurbished for a steal.

    🧱 5. The Challenge: Use It Like a Laptop

    This is it. I’m going all in.

    No switching back to the Dell. No cheating with another computer on the side. Just me and the iPad.

    Apps, accessories, multitasking, file management—I’ll be testing it all.

    🚀 What’s Coming Next

    I’ll be sharing every part of the journey:

    • My daily app setup (and what works, what doesn’t)
    • Accessories that make it usable (keyboard, stand, maybe even a mouse?)
    • Can I write, edit, browse, and chill comfortably on it?
    • And of course—the final verdict after using it every single day

    This isn’t some polished tech review. It’s a real-life test drive.
    And if you’ve been thinking about doing the same, you might find this helpful—or at least a little entertaining.

    Let’s find out if this sleek little tablet can actually go head-to-head with a laptop.

    Stay tuned. 💪

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  • Laksa Sarawak at Ah Liong Cafe BDC – Worth the Extra Prawns?

    Today, I visited Ah Liong Cafe at BDC for my usual bowl of Laksa Sarawak.
    I usually go for the small portion, which comes with three prawns and costs RM8.

    This time, feeling indulgent, I asked for extra prawns.
    They gave me six prawns and charged it as a special — RM12.

    But surprisingly, the additional prawns didn’t make it any more satisfying.
    What truly shines is the broth — rich, spicy, and full of depth.
    That’s the real reason I keep coming back.

    “The broth is the MVP. Not the prawns.”

    Would I order the special again? Maybe not.
    Would I return for that broth? Absolutely.

    📍 Ah Liong Cafe Info

    Location: Lot 942, Jalan Stampin, Taman BDC, Kuching, Sarawak

    Price: RM8 (regular), RM12 (with extra prawns)

    My rating: 👍🏽 for taste, 🤷🏽‍♂️ for extra prawns

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  • My SSD Malfunctioned — Then Came Back from the Dead

    A few days ago, I plugged in my portable SSD and saw a terrifying message:“USB device malfunctioned and was not recognized.”My stomach dropped. Years of files — maybe gone forever. I tried everything I could think of… and then something unexpected happened. 📌 What Happened? I had been using the SSD without any issues. But…

    A few days ago, I plugged in my portable SSD and saw a terrifying message:
    “USB device malfunctioned and was not recognized.”
    My stomach dropped. Years of files — maybe gone forever. I tried everything I could think of… and then something unexpected happened.

    📌 What Happened?

    I had been using the SSD without any issues. But suddenly, when I plugged it into my laptop, Windows threw up a message saying it couldn’t recognize the device. I tried unplugging and replugging it multiple times, hoping it was just a temporary glitch — still nothing.

    In desperation, I even tried connecting it to my iPad. Still no response. The SSD wasn’t showing up anywhere.

    🔧 What I Tried

    I started panicking a little. I opened the SSD enclosure to inspect the drive physically. The SSD itself looked fine — no burnt smell, no cracks, no loose parts. Everything seemed okay on the surface.

    I reseated the SSD and carefully put it back into the enclosure. I was about to give up, but then something weird happened…

    ⚡ The Strange Fix

    While plugging the SSD back into my laptop, the drive didn’t slide in perfectly straight — it ended up hanging at a slight angle. And right at that moment, a miracle happened. My laptop made the USB connect sound.

    The drive mounted.

    Everything was there. All my files. The SSD was somehow back online.

    💡 What I Learned

    • Never assume your SSD is dead — it might just be a loose pin or bad enclosure.
    • Try reseating the SSD carefully.
    • Always have backups!

    Sometimes it’s not the SSD that fails — it’s the enclosure, pins, or even USB cable. In my case, reseating the SSD and accidentally adjusting its position somehow reconnected the pins properly.

    ✅ Quick Tips for Anyone Facing SSD Problems

    • Don’t panic — your data might still be there.
    • Try using a different USB port or computer.
    • Open the enclosure and inspect the SSD.
    • Reseat the SSD inside the casing.
    • Try a different enclosure or USB-to-SATA adapter if you have one.
    • Avoid moving or bending the drive while connected.

    🧰 My Setup

    • SSD: 500GB SATA SSD
    • Enclosure: Basic USB 3.0 SATA enclosure
    • OS: Windows 10

    Final Thoughts 💬 Have You Had a Tech Miracle?

    This was a weird experience, but a lucky one. If your drive suddenly stops working, it might not be dead — it could just be a loose connection. If you’ve ever had a “tech miracle” like this, I’d love to hear your story in the comments below!

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