Spaceman, thanks :-)

If i wanted to sell my computer would the free C Cleaner download be enough to wipe my hard drive clean ?

.

"axdpc, quick answer is yes, whether you would want to is another question. We will all end up doing this but I suspect it will be in 3-5 years time."

I doubt even 3-5 years will be the case.

The main reason I have a WiFi broadband/router servicing my laptop at home is because it enables me to check my messages (and prices on Stock Manager) with my PDA. I hate having to wait for Win XP to load up if all I need to do is see whether someone has sent me a msg.

I still don't understand why someone does not make a telephone that accepts broadband and has a crude e:mail receive/send facility.


TP

I'm thinking of getting a Vodaphone 3G PCMCIA data card which has been unlocked for any network.

If I use it in Spain and France this summer, would it be possible (and cheaper) to buy local PAYG SIM cards for it in each of those countries? Also, do they need special SIM cards or will ordinary phone SIM cards work?

Hil,

There's nothing special about a 3G SIM card, it's the equipment (handset or card) that decides to connect to an available 3G (UMTS) network. I found that "support" at Vodafone thought otherwise, but they're wrong. Any old Voda SIM works in my 3G card.

Sometimes PAYG cards are not data-enabled, but I bet they'd be cheaper than paying Voda's rip-off international roaming charges.

You may find that the card falls back to good old clockwork GPRS in many places.

I notice you're going Spain and FRance this summer. If you go in the winter, you will need the ski-boot option as well, but I can help you with that ;-)

Hils,i bought a 3G card about 4 weeks back and while up scotland last week used it for the 1st time,mine is unlocked also but have not put my Tmobile card in it yet.Summery of use for the week because i was out in the sticks it never got a 3G signal,so was only running gprs which runs about 56k.Could be expensive to run on the PAYG it costs about 7.50 a mb,which does not last long.
As i only use it for placing trades with Betonmarket who dont have the facility to place a trade by phone,only on the net,i dont have much choice.

It gives me the freedom to travel alot more and reduce the screen watching.

If you want more information,just ask away,but will be away again from friday for a week up north again.

Rick...

Thanks D & Mega. Is the ski boot option PAYG or contract?

:o)

I've been doing a bit of digging this morning. Orange, who I'm on contract with, charge 8/min for international 3G/GPRS use in France and Spain. I wouldn't be using it much, so I'm not sure how much I'd actually use or what the end cost would me. I'd only use my streaming FXCM cable chart for 10 minutes in the morning and the same again in the evening plus a log into my broker to place my orders. I couldn't care less about my e-mails or any other websites while I'm away.

I also had a look on the Movistar website, but that was all Dutch to me, so I'm none the wiser as to their charges. Orange seem to charge 4 for 4MB to be used within 1 month PAYG for domestic 3G, so I guess that Movistar and other foreign providers would charge around the same. If anybody (cue Greystone) happens to know what they charge I'd be grateful.

Hilary

With Orange it's not 8 per min, I think it's actually 8 per MB for both 3G and GPRS

Quote:

"Orange provide flexible zone-based tariffs offering you access across more than 60 countries so that you can control your international data costs. GPRS and 3G roaming is 8 per megabyte, charged in per kilobyte intervals, whatever zone you're working in."

Cost of using your Orange mobile phone in France

Mega Bucks

I recall you were having a Windows Password problem a few posts ago - or was it your son? Hmmm? Can't actually remember, but I think you were wanting to reset it or find it or whatever.

Anyhow, I came across the following:

"It is the tiny battery's job to supply the power that keeps the BIOS info' stored.

When taking out the battery there is a risk of losing the motherboards BIOS program.

It is better if you use the BIOS reset jumper. The jumper should be located near the battery. It will have 3 prongs with a jumper on it using 2 of the 3 prongs. With the computer off but not disconnected from the power, move the jumper over for 15-30 sec's.

This will reset the BIOS to default settings, et voila, 'No more password'.

If the jumper is set on pins 1 and 2, to reset BIOS set jumper on pins 2 and 3 and vice versa."

Hope that helps.

Doc,yes it was my lad that had problems and yes the information you gave me the 1st time got it sorted.Thanks very much.

Rick...

Doc,

Thanks for pointing out my mistake. I had actually realised that it was per MB and not per minute, but I had a problem with the connection between my brain and fingers hence the typo. I'm told it's a sign of age.

:o)

The Publisher,

I still don't understand why someone does not make a telephone that accepts broadband and has a crude e:mail receive/send facility.

I wasn't sure whether you meant a telephone or a mobile phone/PDA. If you meant the latter, the Qtek 9100 does it all, the only downside being that it's a Windows Mobile device. Quad-band GSM/GPRS, Wi-Fi and so on.

"I wasn't sure whether you meant a telephone or a mobile phone/PDA."

I meant something that, for example, my wife could use. She's 63 and has never turned on a computer or a PDA in her life.

For her making a phone call involves picking up a handset, dialling a number and putting the handset down to disconnect the call.

She would not thank you for a Windows Mobile device you had to turn on each time the phone rang. Nor would she want something with either a keyboard too small to use easily or icons that needed her to put on her reading glasses.

Didn't the French have a phone that had a little LCD screen? Wasn't it supplied free as an alternative to their directory enquiry service? And now I think of it, didn't Alan Sugar try to market something similar in the UK?

I've just looked at the Qtek. I was talking about a telephone that used the copper wire that comes into your home and for which you are already paying - not something that requires you to subscribe for another service.

TP

TP, I had nearly posted details of the Emailer but of course it is not broadband.

http://www.amstrad.com/products/emailers/e3.html

TP,

Well, I'm 62 and I've been turning on computers as long as I can remember . . .

But now I know what you mean and Kayak anticipated my next bright idea.

The French thing you refer to is the Minitel.

But I understand your requirement -- my technophobic old Dad (age 92) could really use something similar.

K,

So it still exists, the Emailer.

Can't be hard to make it handle broadband, surely?

MM,

Yes Minitel. I wonder if they still exist.

A problem is that we, who have been turning on computers for eons, forget how much we have assimilated. I was sitting next to my wife on a plane about a year ago and she got that device out of her armrest to choose a movie. Paging and cursoring down the screen was totally new to her and all the little icons that would have guided her through it were just clutter on the screen.

Tp

Do you ever take her out?

What other kit have you got in your home? Sky+ TV, for instance?

"What other kit have you got in your home? Sky+ TV, for instance?"

Plasma fed using an RGB to VGA converter from a TiVo fed from Sky, linked into surround sound HiFi.

Radio and CD fed into surround sound HiFi.

But all totally controlled by Pronto - which is the only way you can combine all that kit and keep the controls simple.

"Do you ever take her out?"

Yes, but not to places you need to know how to cursor down a menu or wine list.

TP

Can you come and sort out the mess that is my TV, DVD, Sky and stereo TP? :-)

I was ok with a video but its all gone to ratsh*t now :-))