TP, I really wouldn't go near those sites. Again, why not look on eBay? Make sure you get a copy with a key though.

OK K I'll look at e:bay

Was that why Hilary mentioned the VLK. It is a new element I have not yet understood.

TP

thanks Kayak i'll have a look at e-bay link,

-

Adam,

Thanks for your help. I will try this and see how it goes.

Ashley

Here I am again. The Publisher without Publisher.

On e:bay there are a bundle of UK sources offering the full Office 2003 at around 65 with a sealed box.

Others offer it for 10 or less with no box.

Both have a key.

I don't need the box so why do people opt for that alternative?

TP

TP,

In short, the sealed boxes are probably genuine (although they could be better quality pirates). The 10 ones are definitely pirates.

There are two real ways of pirating expensive software. One way is to sell a copy with a VLK where the same CD key can be successfully used many, many times over. The other way is to hack, crack or work around the activation proceedure. There is a crack for Office 2k3 and Office XP and some eBay sellers will include this crack on the CD which they sell and tell you to apply the crack after installation to remove the activation nag.

The downside of using CD key generators and other cracks is that the software sometimes become unusable after a Service Pack upgrade. If you can get hold of one, you really want a VLK copy and I suggest that you ask the seller first before you bid or buy.

Thanks Hilary,

All new territory to me.

TP

Anyone tried this prog.
http://www.onspeed.com/en/index.php
Does it work?

I have heard lots of reports that it can be very fast, but mysteriously not everyone seems to get the benefit.

It works by compressing and uncompressing text data that gives the greatest benefits due to the type of data and the embedded spaces. It does not do anything if you are downloading software as it is usually compressed already and it also does not compress much anyway. The same is true of graphics.

Graphics like .jpg, .gif and the various movie formats are already compressed and are unlikely to be any faster.

It also increases the load on your processor. How useful it turns out to be depends on your use of the internet.

Hard to say what the benefit is for any given user, it works by redirecting your requests to their servers which then compress the data to be uncompressed at your end by their software. My own take is that this might be OK for people stuck with dialup, but I doubt if it offers much advantage to broadband users these days. Just another link in the chain to break, IMHO. And for 25/month, you can have broadband.

For about 45/month, you can have unlimited 3G broadband via Vodaphone, as I recall. You can stuff the 3G card into an appropriate router and off you go.

Anybody have/know where I can get a viewer/reader for old Lotus Freelance graphics files - .pre? Powerpoint refuses to open them and all searches lead to IBM page where a viewer is nowhere to be found? I still have my original Smartsuite discs but this laptop doesn't have a floppy drive to load it.

kernow, I would get a newer version of Smartsuite on CD. I have the 97 version and having checked it opens .PRE files and it runs under Windows 2000 and no doubt XP. That will only set you back a few pounds but there is a newer 9.8.1 version too. See ebay:

http://computers.search.ebay.co.uk/lotus-smartsuite_Software_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ18793

3G cards.

Someone on a photograph forum found this. Might help someone.

http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/adapter/u132.php

TP

I have just aquired one of the Vodaphone 3G cards from Ebay,when i come to install it which should not be a problem,the problem is at the moment i use the laptop via a access point,will installing the card affect the current use or will winxp sort this out automatic or will i have to change the setting when i come to use the differant systems ????

Mega...

Mega,

Never used one but I get the impression that you have software that you choose which access point yuo want to use. IE When at home you choose your wireless network and when on the road select the 3G before you leave. Easy.

ADAM,thanks for your help,at the moment i just switch the laptop on and it searches for the access point using IE then i can surf the net as i would do with the normal pc,but when i go away from my office say for the weekend i want to be able to open the laptop again but this time use the 3G card using IE,would xp automatic sort the differances out on start up or would i have to change some settings in IE ????

Mega...

I think you will have to choose a connection.

ADAM,many thanks for your help,will try it some time tomorrow and update the out come,will create restore point 1st so if i cock it up could do a restore !!!

Mega...

Iain,

Regarding Onspeed, been using It for about a year now, definitely faster with, then without (thats type and not pics/games etc. which Is not a consideration for me) I am on dial up and did not want to go to all the time/trouble and expense Of getting more hardware for broadband.I had heard of some horror stories regarding If one wanted to change ones broadband supplier.

I had been considering Onspeed, when B.T. had this Free offer to download It which I took.
I posted for views at the time on here but didn't get much user feedback and can't find the thread on the search facility now.

I don't have broadband but have tried It at the library and will say that Onspeed Is not as fast. It was 24.99 for a year at the time.

So whilst not being as fast as broadband It Is faster then with straight dial up with no potential hassle which change can bring. I use a Mac but don't know If that makes a difference or not.

Hope that Is of some help.