Why do you ride a bicycle to work ?
It’s fast, safe, practical and healthier. Before I started using a bicycle, I was taking the bus. It took me much longer to get to work and I always had sore throats and felt exhausted.

How did you start?
I wanted to exercise at Lumpini Park because it’s close my house. It takes only 10 minutes to get there by bicycle. But by bus, you need to count 30 minutes.

How long does it take you to go to work?
15 minutes. My place is at Saphan Lueng. I ride into Soi Lalaisap then down Sathorn and that’s it. Taking the bus used to take me twice as long or even one hour in the evening. I’ve been cycling to work for a year now.

Have you ever been in an accident ?
No, but the first time I rode my bike in Bangkok, I was very scared. I tried to be very careful and aware of my surroundings. That’s what we should do at all times but sometimes accidents are out of your control. So far, I’ve been lucky, probably because I ride very close to footpath. It’s really too bad Bangkok does not have enough lanes for bicycles.

Do you wear a helmet?
Yes, of course. I want to protect myself. I use a small, light helmet designed specifically for bicycle riders. I also cover my nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

Are any of your friends following your example?
I have friends who work at Chulalongkorn hospital who ride a bicycle to get there and some friends who use it in Lumpini to exercise. It saves them time, money, and it’s good for your health. Personally, I also ride to the market, at Bang Rak, and to go shopping. I think many people are starting to use a bicycle.

Are bicycles for everybody?
If it takes more than 30 minutes for you to get to your workplace by bicycle, I think it’s too dangerous and tiring to bother. Otherwise, go for it.

What do you mean you don’t have a webcam? Chatting in the dark is no fun! Aren’t you sick of using emoticons to express yourself? And wouldn’t you like to know if HotThaiDude69 is really all that hot?

There are three categories of webcam users: businesses that use webcams as a tool for meeting with clients and colleagues; organizations that use webcams with some kind of software for surveillance or security purposes; and people who use them for entertainment and casual purposes with friends and family. What you will use the webcam for will determine what kind of camera you should be shopping for. Here are some other characteristics to consider before buying a webcam:

• Lens. Getting a clear shot is an important thing, so don’t forget about image quality. Just like on a regular camera, the bigger the lens, the better the image can be. Focus is also important. If your camera has no changeable focus, there’s no point in getting a bigger lens—the quality will be the same as a small lens.

• Sensor. If image quality is very important to you, you should also test out how the camera processes light. Light sensors have two types: CMOS and CCD. CMOS is the general standard in the market, and the cameras can be made very compact. Those with CMOS are usually relatively inexpensive, but they also offer a lower quality image. CCD is the standard for higher quality instruments, but they are usually bulkier and more expensive.

• Image capture rate / fps (frames per second). This is the rate at which images are captured by the camera every second. If it’s a low number, your actions will be jerky and delayed when your friend sees you. The clear images you see on television with no jerkiness at all are recorded at 30fps, but of course, these better quality images also eat up more of your bandwidth. General users can go as low as 15fps, but will have to suffer a slight delay.

• Sound. Most cameras come with a built-in microphone but offer low quality sound. They will work OK for regular speech; however, if getting higher quality sound is important—for example with music or a multimedia presentaion—getting a camera with a better quality microphone is something to consider.

• Internet speed. In order to have a quick response without visual delay in your transmission, your internet connection speed should be over 200kb/second. This is why using a dial up internet connection (30 kb/s) with a webcam results in jerkiness in the image. Get broadband, baby.

• Space area. Webcams come in many different sizes and shapes so they can be used in a variety of applications. Some clamp onto your notebook or monitor, while others can be attached to the wall or ceiling. The function of the camera will determine the size and shape you need.

• Price and warranty. These things are important to consider in the purchase of any technology product. Make sure there is a service center near your home.

Little and Lively

This webcam from CREATIVE clamps onto your notebook and can rotate 180°. Image can also be rotated if needed. Video resolution: 640x480 pixels; still images 1.3 megapixels. Captures video at up to 30fps. Comes with software to organize and edit your photos and enable video messaging.

CREATIVE Live Cam Notebook Pro. B2,490. Hardware House International. 3/F, IT Mall Fortune. Ratchada Rd., 02-685-8939.

007’s Webcam

This webcam works best with PCs and can be mounted on notebook displays, CRT monitors, flat panel displays or on any flat surface. Comes with an ultra-wide angle lens with an 85° field of view. With smart face tracking, the camera can also automatically follow movement. 4x digital zoom. Software to organize and edit your photos and enable video messaging.

CREATIVE Live Cam Voice. B4,790. IT City, 5/F, Pantip Plaza. Petchburi Rd., 02-656-5030.

Sound & Vision

This product combines VGA performance with good audio sound quality. Video resolution 640x480 pixels; still image resolution 1.3 megapixels. Digital zoom, high quality built-in microphone and CMOS lens. Also comes with video effects software allowing you to play with your images while chatting. (What else you play with while chatting is your business.) Compatible with Windows or Mac OS.
2-year warranty.

Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000. B3,168. IT City. 4/F,
Siam Paragon, 02-610-9530/-6.

Photo Master

This webcam can create and edit videos and capture photos while traveling. It is integrated into a notebook mount so that it attaches to any notebook. Built with CMOS lens. Video resolution 1.3 megapixels, still photo resolution 4 megapixels. Digital zoom, high quality built-in microphone, video messaging. Also comes with video effects software allowing you to play with your images while chatting. Compatible with Windows 2000 and XP and Mac OS. 2-year warranty.

Logitech QuickCam Notebook Pro. B3,400. Accessory Supply Shop. 2/F (Room 250)., Pantip Plaza. Petchburi Rd., 02-255-2317.

How did you win WarCraft III?
I worked really hard, practicing with friends and strangers online. I’ve loved gaming since I was in secondary school.

What is the most challenging part of the game?
Anticipating what the competition will do. I have to focus on my senses individually—my eyes, my hands—that gives me better control. It’s a strategy game.

How are you preparing for your trip to Italy?
After losing in Singapore to the Australian winner, I know I have to practice. I made some bad decisions, that’s why I lost. I’m going to be competing with players from 70 countries, and the international players are really good. They have a lot of experience.

Do you think foreign gamers are better than Thailand’s?
Yes, because they have a lot of opportunities. They have good Internet technology and can compete wherever and whenever they want. That’s an advantage. In Thailand, Internet technology is lacking and there is never any support.

Would you call yourself a gaming addict?
No. Some people play games that can take all day, and I don’t think that’s good. The ones I play are pretty short.

What is your advice to aspiring gamers?
Play for fun. It’s good practice, but don’t spend too much time on it. You can download the game at www.war3.replays.net.

What is your ultimate goal?
I want to be a pro-gamer but it’s not really possible in Thailand. I think I’ll work in Korea or China for a while, because there professional gamers can make US$200,000 a year. This career is more popular abroad because they have sponsors and an audience.

What is Push Mail?

Push Mail is a wireless communication service that offers non-stop access to email, phone, Internet, text messaging as well as word/spreadsheet processing.

How does it work?

It works the same as a wireless laptop computer, but the handsets are the size of a PDA and it never turns off.

What can I do with it?

You can use Push Mail to read and write emails with attachments, process data and organize with your workgroups while not in the office.

Who should use Push Mail?

It’s suitable for anyone who travels a lot or is regularly away from the office and needs continual access to the web or email.

What is BlackBerry?

BlackBerry is another wireless communication service in competition with Push Mail. BlackBerry and Push Mail do the same thing, but support different operating systems. Push Mail can support Microsoft Windows, Nokia Solution, Symbian or Java, while BlackBerry only supports the BlackBerry OS.

Who are the service providers?

We have three in Thailand—DTAC, AIS and True Move.

How is this different from accessing the web on my mobile phone or PDA?

On a mobile phones you normally only have access to free email sites like Yahoo! or Hotmail and they require you to connect to the web to access them. Push Mail is always connected, and it allows access to more powerful email applications like Microsoft Outlook. Plus, you can create, view and edit documents as if you were using a laptop.

Can you use a mobile phone or PDA to get Push Mail?

No. You need a special handset that has software to support the operating system.

How much do Push Mail and BlackBerry services cost?

The cost varies depending on the provider you choose, your handset and how much data you expect to be moving around per month.

I run Microsoft Windows on a PC and use Outlook for my contacts and emails. What Push Mail handset should I use?

If you want your handset to synch perfectly with your computer, get one that uses a Microsoft Windows OS. BlackBerrys have had trouble openning Microsoft documents.

What if I’m an Apple person?

Neither Push Mail nor BlackBerry are fully compliant with the Apple OS, so check the specs on the handsets you are considering.

Where can I get more information?

www.dtac.co.th, www.ais.co.th, www.truecorp.co.th, www.blackberry.com.

Handsets

BlackBerry 8700g Wireless Handheld
BlackBerry OS, organizer, Internet, email, 64MB flash memory and QWERTY keyboard. B25,500. Available at the True Shop, Siam Paragon, 3/F, 02-610-8888.

HP RW6828 PDA phone
Microsoft Windows OS with Microsoft software, QWERTY keyboard, 2 megapixel camera and 64MB memory. B28,900. Available at DTAC Building, 1/F, Viphavadi Rd. Call Center 1678.

O2 Xda Atom
Microsoft Windows OS, 2 megapixel camera and 64MB memory. B31,900. Available at DTAC Building, 1/F, Viphavadi Rd., call center 1678.

Nokia E61
Microsoft Windows OS and Office software, QWERTY keyboard, multimedia messaging and 64MB memory. B16,490. Available at Nokia shop, 3/F Siam Paragon, 02-610-9778.  

The new LG Chocolate phone (LG KG320) is one smooth operator. We ran it through its paces to see how well it did in the heavily competitive world of mobile phones.

The Look: Sleek, compact, sexy design, yet with buttons that aren’t too small as to inhibit easy use. Sharp display.

The Specs: Size: 96 x 46 x 10mm. Weight: 70g. Onboard memory: 128MB. Bluetooth and USB enabled, 1.3 megapixel still/video camera, MP3 player.

The Options: The fact that you can easily use this phone with your computer is definitely a big plus. Connect via Bluetooth and synch your address book or connect to the web from wherever you are. Plug in the USB and easily transfer MP3s, photos and videos to and from your computer as well as set an MP3 as your ringtone. Good sound quality, too.

On the downside, it’s nearly impossible to plug in the power adapter/USB cord because it’s hidden behind a tiny latch; people without long fingernails will get easily frustrated. Also, every time you delete anything it runs a four second animation of a dancing garbage can—annoying if you have more than one item to throw away.

The Verdict: Though a tad pricey, this LG Chocolate is a good buy if you are a music person searching for an enviably cool-looking phone.

LG Chocolate KG320. B8,990. Available at the LG Shop, 4/F MBK Center Bldg. (Tokyu side), Phyathai Rd., Pathumwan, 02-611-4922, 02-611-4933.

Tell about your racing record.
I started go-karting when I was seven years old, racing in the Bira International Circuit in Pattaya. I was already hooked. Before that, I was watching Formula 1 everyday on TV and begging my parents to buy me a go-kart. Eventually, I started driving almost every weekend at Seacon Square with a really old car that they bought me. I got a podium place, which impressed a lot of people.

Have you ever gotten hurt racing?
No, I’ve been lucky so far.

What makes you continue racing?
The feeling that I want to win.

What is the main reason BMW chose you?
I think I am a fast and good driver—that’s why BMW chose me.

How do you prepare for a race?
I do a lot of fitness training in the gym—three hours every day with my personal trainer. Before racing, I go through all the data from last year and all the previous years. Then I walk the track and get to know it so I will be ready to drive.

How will the race here in September be different from the one in Indonesia?
I never entered in Indonesia so I didn’t know what the track would be like. When we come to the Bira Circuit, I am going to have an advantage because it’s my home track; I have driven it the most. I am exited to come back to Bira.

Will there be pressure racing here?
Yes, but I think it’s good pressure because I have a lot of friends that will be there to support me.

Will this job be your career in the future?
I would love to make it my career.

Will we ever see Thais in Formula 1?
A lot of my friends are racing cars and doing well nowadays. I think Thai people’s opinions are changing—they want to try it.