COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Wendyf]

Col got quite emotional yesterday when the last ever edition of Computer Shopper arrived in the post. He has had a subscription since it was first published in 1988 when there were regular reviews of our Rombo products.

[PanBiker]

I can understand that Wendy, I didn't know it was still in print.

[Wendyf]

All due to Covid 19 restrictions apparently, they were trying to keep printing.

[Tizer]

When we set up our business in the early 1990s I got my computer information from Personal Computer World (PCW). PCW I'd been working in the next office to computer security editors and it's what they read so I decided it would be good enough for me! It introduced me to Dan Technology computers and we used their PCs through to beyond 2000 but the company went into receivership in June 2002. It was a shame because we found their stuff excellent. I found this comment on the Web: `This London-based manufacturer was a respected, award-winning PC builder, noted for its high build quality and customer service.' Dan

[Wendyf]

That's another magazine that arrived in our house each month.

[PanBiker]

I used to get PC Pro, that one is still in print.

[Stanley]

We got all our information that way at one time. Now it's all online. I suppose it's progress but it leaves a lot of people behind..... You don't read a website like you do a glossy magazine with some good editorial. (Or at least, I don't!)

[chinatyke]

China sent a rocket into space last week as part of its experimentation on 6G networks. 6G is reported to be 100X faster than 5G.

[plaques]

6G is reported to be 100X faster than 5G. My brain can only handle information with a 2/10 (two tenths) second delay. I've got to admit this extra speed is going to be wasted on me.

[Whyperion]

6G is reported to be 100X faster than 5G. My brain can only handle information with a 2/10 (two tenths) second delay. I've got to admit this extra speed is going to be wasted on me.

Its more so that 'things' can communicate between themselves faster, useful for automated vehicles and trains for example, drone deliveries of goods (when is the milkman going to be replaced), and I would imagine fast switching of electric supply networks to demand, storage and production of renewalbles.

[Tizer]

China sent a rocket into space last week as part of its experimentation on 6G networks. 6G is reported to be 100X faster than 5G.

Britain sent up thousands of rockets last week. It's not fake news, I heard them go up!

..when is the milkman going to be replaced..

When you think about it the electric milk cart was before its time. When will we have post, courier and supermarket deliveries by electric vehicle? Surely they should be one of the priorities for conversion to electric?

Yet another way for the supermarket spiders to draw their customers into their webs. It also reeks of the `echo chamber' effect again, closing minds instead of opening minds....
`How artificial intelligence may be making you buy things' LINK

[Whyperion]

Yet another way for the supermarket spiders to draw their customers into their webs. It also reeks of the `echo chamber' effect again, closing minds instead of opening minds....
`How artificial intelligence may be making you buy things' LINK

Delivery vehicles often were / still are electric mainly in city areas.

I hope the AI has dates locked into it too, when a supermarket sold lots of Lemon Juice one day in March, so the system ordered replenishment for the following week, which did not sell ( pancake day ).
I just confuse AI its either one offs, or toliet rolls, cat food and cooked ham , I looked through the inlaws parents list (they lived next door to a grocers), sent every week and returned with the bill, Bacon, Cheese, Butter, Tea, Bread, Jam, Cereal (Corn Flakes), Potatoes, Ham. I think tinned goods came from the supermarket, Juices and Milk from the Milkman. I doubt their parents in Hartlepool bought much different either, all signed the pledge methodists and non-smokers.

[chinatyke]

... My brain can only handle information with a 2/10 (two tenths) second delay. I've got to admit this extra speed is going to be wasted on me.

They are saying microsecond latency delays and Terabits/second data transfer speeds. More than my brain can handle also.

[Tripps]

6G is reported to be 100X faster than 5G.

My lad said last week - every office has one - if you've been to Tenerife, he's been to Elevenerife.

[chinatyke]

[Stanley]

6G..... Waste of time on me, I don't want faster, I want slower so that I can handle it. There is one man on the supermarket check out at the Co-op who gets really upset by me because I can't keep up with the speed he scans items past the till. He doesn't try to hide it either so I wind him up by going even slower.

[Tizer]

Tell him to slow down, Stanley, that's what we do and they have to do what the customer asks. They're supposed to adjust their response to the customer's requirements. What you're doing at the moment will only make him worse. If the shop hasn't trained him you'll have to do it for them!

[Stanley]

Can't be bothered Peter, if he can't see he is making life difficult for himself that's his problem. The ladies are all nice to me and even help by putting shopping in bags for me. That reminds me, One of them, Helen, is off poorly and isn't replying to Whatsapp, must look into it.

[PanBiker]

Just had a productive half hour with Caldon from Talk Talk via the chat facility.

My Broadband / Phone contract was due to expire on 12th December. I currently pay £25.00 for 40Mbps broadband (Fibre 35). I add to that £12.00 per month for free calls to landlines and mobiles and all the other phone services including line rental etc, so total £37.00

The charges are basically based around the broadband package and my renewal offer was £26.00 on a new 24month contract for the same deal. However checking the new and existing customer deals I see that I can have the Fibre65 package for £26.00 as well but this was not offered, time for a chat.

What I have ended up with is, Fibre65 (go live tomorrow) for £26.00 - free for the next 3 months. Free UK calls to landlines and mobiles for £4.50 rather than £12 and Super Safe Boost which is normally £4.00 discounted to £2.00

So faster broadband (free for the next 3 months) and the same phone deal for the overall package price of £5.00 month less. Winner I reckon.

If you don't ask you don't get.

[Big Kev]

Nice one, I have a similar deal with Sky Broadband.

60mbps unlimited fibre broadband
Anytime calls to landlines and mobiles
Line rental
Voicemail
Caller ID
Call Shield
A thing called Boost, which checks I'm getting and guarantees the 60mb or I get some money back.
12 month contract
It's been very reliable.

[PanBiker]

Yes the Super Safe Boost takes it to around 67Mbps and you can install apps on unlimited PC's ,tablets and phones that give security shielding when using the WiFi to access the internet. Two fixed computers, two mobiles, one tablet and the streaming on the on demand on the TV, should keep up nicely.

[PanBiker]

I have emailed the Town Council again about their broken Visit Barnoldswick site. Asking if they are intending to fix it with a few bob for a new SSL certificate or abandon it. If it's the latter I will delete the redirect link from here. I have added a note on the link for the interim until they make their mind up. Sad if they abandon it for the sake of a few quid it was a good initiative for the businesses and organisations in the town. Ha'p'orth of Tar.

[Stanley]

Is the Council aware of the problem? Could your mail be being blocked before it gets to them. I can't believe they would do anything so stupid.

[PanBiker]

I assume so because I always get a reply from the clerk Jo. It should be on the agenda for discussion. I believe they have been told that it is a "coding error" when in fact a simple "Who Is" domain name search tells you that the sites security certificate has expired. Basic housekeeping stuff which they should have been notified of by their host provider. Spent a bob or two of the precept brass on setting the site up but it does need an admin to function as it is a moderated content site. Contributions and changes have to be approved before posting to the site. 120,000 redirects from here although a percentage will be bot and crawler hits.

[Stanley]