COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Big Kev]

I can invoke a test and it comes up OK they only estimate the speed on my line as 51Mbps at best. Well it used to be better until the FTP rollout.


NetStabSpeed.JPG


If Ntobeko was where her picture and name suggests maybe the latency is between West Africa and the UK. Nothing reported here, all shows as fine and dandy.

Give them another go tomorrow, they must be able to improve on what you're currently getting.

[PanBiker]

That's the plan Kev, plus I think I may have a fault on the output side of the router. Even at 46Mbps it should not be buffering with on demand using a 5m wired connection to the FreeSat box. or the WiFi dropping out.

[Big Kev]

Are there any router logs?

[PanBiker]

Not of any relevance as far as I can see Kev, just the restarts and logons etc.

[Tizer]

Another way in for malicious people...
`Home car charger owners urged to install updates' LINK

[Stanley]

It seems to me the more technology you have installed the more you need to worry. (Or is it just me that's averse to the Internet of Things!)

[Tizer]

This could lead to some nasty situations - but who is doing it?
`Warship positions faked including UK aircraft carrier' LINK

[Stanley]

Could it be anything to do with using outdated Microsoft operating systems as the base for their programmes.
I wonder if this hacking of both domestic and government programmes would be as easy under Linux based software?

[plaques]

The scramble is now on for each of the top countries to have their own satellite GPS systems. This is for obvious reasons that if you shut down the GPS then people are flying blind. Meanwhile its always handy to throw a bit of confusion into the pot by claiming ships etc: are not where they actually are. A case of 'not me gov' look at the tracing plots, my ships were miles away.

[Stanley]

It seems there might be something strange going on in that department right now Ken.

[Tizer]

It's no wonder government department computer systems get penetrated and the old systems are probably a drag on productivity and efficiency too...
`Keeping old computers going costs government £2.3bn a year, says report' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58085316

[plaques]

Talking about old computers my old desk top, a 32 bit, has all the apps that make life tolerable unfortunately they won't transfer to the Laptop. 64 bit. Thinking I could use something like 'Office' for some minor use. Checking things out I saw the new '365' far too expensive for my simple use. A 2019 '365' version looked like it would fit the bill but I didn't understand the 'Key' usage statement. eg, is it for one year or reloadable for subsequent years .
Is there anybody out there who can explain this to me.... Yes I know I'm a tight wad.

[Whyperion]

It's no wonder government department computer systems get penetrated and the old systems are probably a drag on productivity and efficiency too...
`Keeping old computers going costs government £2.3bn a year, says report' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58085316

Does not really compare the cost of upgrade/ new systems or the maintenance cost of same so its a meaningless number without a comparason of the alternative. I understand one was a performance management system for home office immigration staff (aka Hostile Environment?).

[Big Kev]

Or just use Apache openoffice, it works with Microsoft Office files
https://www.openoffice.org/why/

[plaques]

Kev. I've had a look at the Openoffice but when asked to chose operating system it only quotes Windows 32 bit. not the 64 bit I have. I feel that I may be wasting my time downloading this. Any views?

[Big Kev]

It will work but you'll need 32bit java on the machine for some of the functionality, could be more trouble than it's worth. How much did you see the 2019 MS Office for?
It's available on Groupon for £39, once bought that's it, it's yours.

Microsoft Office 2019 Home and Student
https://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/microso ... eferral_ma

[PanBiker]

The 32 bit version should work fine Ken. What can do a lot can do a little.

I have just downloaded the latest 4.1.10 version 32 bit and it works fine on my 64 bit system running Win10

Windows shoved Visual C ++ on in the background I think it was.

[Tripps]

I use Libreoffice on a 64 bit machine for word processing and spreadsheets. It does everything I need. I think Tizer recommended it.

[plaques]

Thanks Tripps. I've downloaded the older 706 programme and it appears to open up OK. I'll give it a try tomorrow. If it doesn't work I'll blame Tizer.

[Stanley]

I use Libre Office as well, only downside is that if I send anyone text I find it's best to convert to Windows format as not all machines will read .odt files.
Peter, the obsolete systems and machines in government article. Just as I thought, what a shocking state of affairs. I have an idea that even some of the latest defence systems, particularly naval, are run on old Windows OS. They spend £100 billion on HS2 which is based on traffic figures that are a joke now but run some government functions on Widows 7 or somewhere close because 'it would be too expensive' to upgrade.

[Tizer]

Yes, we use LibreOffice here on our Ubuntu PCs and used OpenOffice before it changed to Libre. Does all we need and is free.

This morning when I do Google searches in Firefox the pages are coming up with a very different layout to previously. The results are enclosed in boxes and the text looks quite different. Also the page is very wide and the content goes off screen so I'm having to re-size the window. I've not changed anything on my PC. Perhaps Mozilla are using their usual game of trying something out on users and waiting to see if there's a backlash. Trouble is, it's not easy to give feedback to Mozilla, they're well known for not wanting to contaminate themselves by communicating with users!

[Tripps]

the pages are coming up with a very different layout to previously.

I noted yesterday that a result I expected in a Firefox / Google search, failed to appear. Tried another browser (Brave) and there it was - as expected. Also Firefox fails to 'keep me logged in' when I request it, but only on one particular website. Again Brave does not have this problem.

Another experience a few months ago, defied belief, and vanished leaving no evidence. I wrote it all down and have told my lad about it. Ether I'm going senile faster than I thought, or something very very sinister is going on. In case it's me - I'll say no more now.

I take consolation from the fact that I can stay off the web if I choose. Like the Tesco Clubcard - I only give them my data (for a small reward) if I choose to do so, and I can still pay cash if I wish, and be totally anonymous.

[Stanley]

My Google searches are normal.

[Tizer]

It first started when I typed: covid news america in the google search box. Quite different page layout. It's the same on Mrs Tiz's PC too. Now I find sometimes I get the old layout, sometimes the new. It's not restricted to the word covid.

Usual appearance typing in: history america...



New appearance typing in: covid news america

[Stanley]

I tried both searches and got the same results as you Peter. I hadn't noticed before you mentioned it.
Then I tried 'Covid news UK ' as a search term and got a similar page to the one for America. Perhaps it's the word Covid that's triggering the side bar of other information.