Recent Posts

4926

Living Room / Re: Apologese - I will be offline for a while ...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 16, 2007, 10:54 AM »

Actually I don't really think it is Overclocker's responsibility to replace a motherboard after 3 months use - it is Asus that makes the guarantee, not the dealer.

Having said that they have 10 in stock so they could simply test it and then issue a replacement and claim a mobo for stock which would effectively be the same and they would have dealt with the problem in a more useful manner.

As I understand it they have to ensure that the goods are 'fit for purpose' which an ASUS mobo is - it is hardly their fault if a component which is usually trouble free fails.

I still rate ASUS as a manufacturer - it is just their service department I am not at all happy with - and I will be telling them so in no uncertain terms.

When I have had hard discs die in warranty I have been sent a new drive with packaging to return the old one before now - and even ATI replaced a graphics card on a much more friendly basis than ASUS.

4927

Living Room / Re: Apologese - I will be offline for a while ...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 16, 2007, 06:55 AM »

I sent it back to the retailer - but they send it back to ASUS for warranty replacement.

I will get a replacement (presuming they don't try and fix my board!) but it will take around 4 weeks at ASUS - plus shipping via the retailer etc. so realistically I am probably looking at 5-6 weeks turnaround time.

I can't wait that long so I have ordered a replacement while I wait - when it arrives I will either build a new system (I have a case/PSU and memory that will work so I would just need a CPU for which I can pick up a cheap Athlon 64 3200+) or simply keep it as a spare!

4928

Living Room / Re: Apologese - I will be offline for a while ...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 16, 2007, 04:54 AM »

ASUS are neither quick nor helpful ....

It took them 3 days to send me a form to complete which I then have to return and get authorised. After that I have to post the board to them for testing (at my expense) plus send them a cheque to cover return postage (so far a total of over £30 / $60) and then wait for a 4 week turnaround !!

In the end I have sent it back to Overclockers (at least that way I get free return postage) but 4 weeks isn't good - especially as it has been nearly a week now and it hasn't even got to ASUS yet!

4929

Living Room / Re: Apologese - I will be offline for a while ...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 12, 2007, 06:26 PM »

Thanks all - I just hope ASUS are helpful and quick tomorrow ...

4930

Living Room / Apologese - I will be offline for a while ...

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 12, 2007, 12:28 PM »

Sorry to say I will be offline for an indefinite period - my new MOBO just blew a gasket and I am going to have to argue with ASUS for an RMA.

The computer was left switched on and when I came back a few hours later all I had was a blank screen and it would reboot.

I removed everything except for CPU, Graphics Card and Memory and I still get no response when I switch on.

I have changed CPU, used a single graphics card (and swapped it) and used a single stick of memory (and swapped it) all with no result.

I have plugged a second computer (the one I swapped the CPU from) to the monitor and it works fine.

Must be the mobo causing the problem but I don't know how long it will take to get it all back up and running again.

I will probably be able to pop in occasionally on this computer but I woun't be around nearly as much until it sorted out.

TTFN

4931

General Software Discussion / Re: WIndows Vista Ultimate ... worth upgrading ... CNET say no!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 12, 2007, 08:34 AM »

Anyways, point in this post, dont complain about something you havent used because others have said things, thats like a 14 year old moving to linux or saying he is using linux because he wants to be cool. Think for yourself people. I did, I ignored the mass majority bad mouthing vista (most without cause) and I am very happy with it. My hat goes off to broken85 for his post, very intelligent and very well thought out. Some very good points made.

But I have played with it throughout the beta testing phase right up to, and including, RC1 - I even paid for the DVDs to spend time with it.

To me the issue is not whether people are happy with Vista but rather have you found something in Vista that is so compelling that makes the cost of upgrading becomes value for money. Just because it look pretty isn't a good enough reason for me and i haven't really seen any compelling evidence that there is anything above and beyond eye-candy that I want or need. I have however seen evidence that there are things I want to avoid like the plague!

If I bought a new computer I would expect Vista to be supplied and I would probably be reasonably unperturbed by it - but if someone was shifting equivalent boxes with remaindered stock of XP Pro at knock down prices it would be a no brainer purchase - I'd come home with the extra cash.

4932

General Software Discussion / Re: A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 12, 2007, 05:02 AM »

Vista DRM cracked ... see http://www.boingboin...sta_drm_cracked.html

4933

General Software Discussion / Re: CD Ripping

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 11, 2007, 11:01 AM »

Can some one explain why this happens? I have always been perplexed that CDs are capable of storing accurate digital data but ripping music seems to be prone to errors like this? If CD music data is just treated as digital data why are there errors cropping up all the time ?

4934

General Software Discussion / Re: WIndows Vista Ultimate ... worth upgrading ... CNET say no!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 11, 2007, 07:18 AM »

I think the biggest issue people have talked about with DRM is that Vista deliberately degrades the quality of the output to avoid re-recording bit perfect copies it via the soundcard. There also seem to be issues with HD-DVD and BluRay too ... not that that will affect many people yet.

4935

General Software Discussion / Re: what kind of keyboard you use?

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 11, 2007, 07:05 AM »

Here's my new keyboard ...

http://uk.europe.cre...mp;product=1081&



The bit under the wrist rest is a MIDI keyboard.



Flash demo here link on left.

4936

General Software Discussion / Re: WIndows Vista Ultimate ... worth upgrading ... CNET say no!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 09, 2007, 07:49 PM »

People will claim that "but Vista uses less resources, it has a hardware accelerated GUI!" - to which the answer is "yeah, and I've had that since win9x. Really."

Yep - but even if the GUI is hardware accelerated the hardware is spending time accelerating your GUI that could perhaps be better spent in applications. I suppose at the end of the day it depends what you use you computer for - if you just use the web, email and office type apps then it won't impact greatly to have a pretty GUI - but then why spend tons of dosh on a new OS at all?

I like to use software that is already pushing systems such as Photoshop, Vegas and audio processing software such as Cakewalk Sonar - I'd rather the OS was as minimal as possible because those apps already need as many resources as can be thrown at them and you are still having to wait for results even on fast hardware!

4937

General Software Discussion / Re: Scott Finnie, windows expert, switching to mac

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 09, 2007, 07:32 PM »

LOL - love it ...

4938

General Software Discussion / Re: WIndows Vista Ultimate ... worth upgrading ... CNET say no!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 09, 2007, 07:31 PM »

There were huge issues with lack of drivers for hardware that MS later addressed in WinXP which meant that a lot of people were put off and there was a lack of support for games too.

-Carol Haynes

Drivers might have been a problem for people with quirky hardware, luckily wasn't an issue for me nor any of my friends. Lack of game support is an urban legend, most well-written stuff worked just fine (sure, there were problems with old DOS games, and p.o.s coding that relied on Win9x insecurities, but that wasn't a lot). I used to game a lot back then

-f0dder (February 09, 2007, 06:48 PM)

I suppose my experience of W2k was a bit coloured because a number of bits of hardware I had at the time effectively bit the dust because of lack of drivers. There were also a number of games companies (Chessmaster is the one that immediately springs to mind but their were others) that explicitly coded their installers so that the products would not install on Windows 2000 because it was seen as a business OS (even though they eventually installed on Windows XP).

4939

General Software Discussion / Re: WIndows Vista Ultimate ... worth upgrading ... CNET say no!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 09, 2007, 07:26 PM »

I think you are right - nothing much of use has been added since W2000 - and certainly W2k was probably a bit leaner and faster.

Whilst I do appreciate that a lot of people will really like Vista it still seems to come down to the user interface eye candy at the end of the day and from what has been published it seems that if you use the Aero system there is a processing overhead which means you end up with a prettier but slower system. Personally I can live with a boring look if it does th job quickly so even if I were to upgrade to Vista I would be turning off all the gimmicks.

Think back to Windows XP release - after the initial interest lots of people were turning off themes and stopping all the extra unnecessary rubbish that appeared in the task manager. I would guess that once the initial "Ooo isn't that pretty" in Vista most people will prefer a faster less pretty machine on a day to day basis.

No one has really given me a sensible reason why anyone would want a pretty desktop that uses up massive amounts of system resources before the computer is actually asked to do something.

As for simplifying the layout of systems utilities and applets I have to say my impression of the Vista release candidate was that there was a lot of obfuscation of these applets - especially the ones that allow you do anything other than Vista's preferred settings. Have you for example tried to tweak wireless network settings - in RC1 it was like going round and round in ever decreasing and frustrating circles trying to find any of the controls.

4940

General Software Discussion / Re: WIndows Vista Ultimate ... worth upgrading ... CNET say no!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 09, 2007, 10:27 AM »

at the time i just seem to remember thinking, why have microsoft released something like millennium when win2k was out - and better. i was kind of dismayed that people were rushing to get millennium when they could have gone for win2k - but then the hype machine wasn't telling them to get win2k.

-nudone (February 09, 2007, 09:46 AM)

If you remember back to W2k release it clearly aimed at businesses and not at general users.

There were huge issues with lack of drivers for hardware that MS later addressed in WinXP which meant that a lot of people were put off and there was a lack of support for games too.

4941

General Software Discussion / Re: Scott Finnie, windows expert, switching to mac

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 09, 2007, 04:33 AM »

It's been coming for a while so no real surprise there.

4942

General Software Discussion / Re: PDF Explorer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 08, 2007, 08:23 AM »

Sorry - it was just that back in 2005 the manual was only available in Portugese ....

4943

General Software Discussion / Re: PDF Explorer

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 07, 2007, 06:57 PM »

Just downloaded the latest builds of this (and PDF Shell Tools) and noticed that they are now shareware (I am sure they didn't used to be).

PDF Explorer is now 60 Euros for PDFE and 40 Euros for Shell extensions which both seem a bit steep to me.

Shame really as I have occasionally found them useful - but they don't warrant 100 Euros worth of use to me.

4944

Living Room / Re: Accesspoint and/or router - help!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 06, 2007, 05:58 AM »

As far as I can tell the ADSL 2 modem is backward compatible with ADSL.

It works fine with 54g WiFi cards too ... apparently it increases WiFi range and strength up to 50% with older devices though I haven't tested this personally. You will get faster networking from multiple 54g devices because the AP uses MIMO technology so it can squirt out a total of 300Mbs - but each device will capped at their maximum rate. (At least that is how I understand it to work).

4945

General Software Discussion / Re: A Cost Analysis of Windows Vista Content Protection

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 05, 2007, 06:18 PM »

Waghhhhh ... Looks like a lot of damn good reasons to avoid VISTA, BluRay discs and HD-DVD discs if you want to use them on a PC ... or in fact ANY HD content at all ...

In fact so far no-one has been able to identify any Windows system that will actually play HD content in HD quality, in all cases any attempt to do this produced either no output or a message that it was blocked by content protection. While it's not possible to prove a negative in this manner, it's certainly an indication that potential buyers may be in for a shock when they try and play premium content on their shiny new Vista PC.

Plus if VISTA really can't play SACD etc. through a digital interface ....

The ultimate in DRM - you can't play it in the format you purchased !

Further comment (edit) ...

I have just finished reading this article and it is scary. Everyone should read this from beginning to end before even contemplating Vista ... presumably the same crap will find its way into Windows XP over time too.

It's no wonder Vista feels so leaden when you consider the ridiculous ends MS have gone to with the DRM parts of the new OS - and in particular AES encryption and decryption of all graphics data when sent to a display. The mind boggles!

4946

Living Room / Re: Accesspoint and/or router - help!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 05, 2007, 05:47 PM »

carol: I'm not too fond of all the various proprietary speed hacks, but as long as it plays nicely with standard devices it's fine. And considering that the online shops I usually use have very few "pure" APs but a lot of mixed AP/router combos, I guess I'll be looking at those.

What's the precise model number you have? Does it support PPPoA? And can ADSL routing be turned off so it just functions as an AP? (I need either PPPoA so I can use the current ZyXel device as a dumb modem, or turn off ADSL routing in the future accesspoint so it doesn't interfere... I think ).

GigaBit wired ports available? That's nice. I can live with 54mbit wlan if I can wire at 1gbit when necessary.

Guess my next task is to read up on bridging mode for the ZyXel to see if it can do what I hope it can - and then find some user experiences.

-f0dder (February 05, 2007, 05:12 PM)

The router/modem I have is ADSL2. It is the Netgear RangeMax Next DG834N (but there is a Gigabit version for wired connections that would be worth seeking out with a different product code). They both have 4 wired ports.

Encapsulation can be set as either PPPoA (PPP over ATM) or or PPPoE (PPP over Ethernet).

I am not sure about disabling the ADSL modem but you can certainly disconnect (and not connect automatically) and use it as a simple AP.

The client wireless connection I have found ideal are the USB 2 based WN121T devices which work at 300Mbps fine throughout my house. I used to have a 54g set up and couldn't get full speed (or close) upstairs even with a booster upstairs. With the current setup I get 300Mbps on my PCs upstairs and downstairs with no extra hardware.

4947

Living Room / Re: Accesspoint and/or router - help!

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 05, 2007, 02:36 PM »

I have been really - REALLY - pleased with my Netgear RangeMax Next 802.11n wireless router with the correspnding USB Wireless adapters. It starts up and connects to the internet almost instantly when you plug it in and I get rock solid internet connections. Add to the 300Mbps wireless connections and you have a really neat and fast network.

My only regret is that I didn't splash out for the Gigabit version of the router as the wired ports on mine are capped at 100Mbps (but having said that I don't often use the wired ports so I don't lose much).

4948

General Software Discussion / Re: Ripoff Britain strikes again ... this time with Vista Pricing

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 02, 2007, 06:22 AM »

Another thing, wasn't the 64-bit editions included in the same DVD as the 32-bit ones? Or are things different for OEM and Upgrade versions?

-Lashiec (February 02, 2007, 06:05 AM)

I think the full/upgrade versions come with 2 DVDs (32 bit and 64 bit) and the OEM version is just one DVD (so you choose 32 bit or 64 bit).

Certainly at Overclockers UK they are listed as OEM 32 bit and OEM 64 bit separate versions but all the others 32 bit (and info on obtaining 64-bit versions) in the box. Presumably the 64 bit version isn't being shipped yet although the OEM versions are available.

I suppose this makes sense because if you are building systems you only want to install a single OS - and most commercial system builders don't seem to supply an installation disc any more.

4949

General Software Discussion / Re: Ripoff Britain strikes again ... this time with Vista Pricing

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 02, 2007, 06:18 AM »

@Carol, I have bought English versions of Windows here (Germany) - dont think there's any difference to UK/IRE versions.

I find the range of options here very confusing, never mind the range of pricing.
Some prices:

Spoiler

  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Business Englisch, System Builder Version windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Business Englisch, System Builder Version 66J-02289
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   148,75 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Ultimate Englisch, System Builder Version windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Englisch, System Builder Version 66R-00765
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   201,11 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Ultimate Englisch windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Englisch 66R-00020
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   522,41 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Ultimate englisch DVD windows
, Plattform: Windows Vista No Operating System
0882224181198
Versandkosten:  Gratis  -  Kategorie: Software   549,00 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Amazon.de

 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Business Englisch windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Business Englisch 66J-00022
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   391,51 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Business englisch DVD windows
, Plattform: Windows Vista No Operating System
0882224181228
Versandkosten:  Gratis  -  Kategorie: Software   419,00 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Amazon.de

 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Premium Englisch windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Englisch 66I-00017
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   315,35 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Basic Englisch windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Englisch 66G-00021
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   272,51 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Business 64-Bit Englisch, System Builder Version windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Business 64-Bit Englisch, System Builder Version 66J-02373
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   148,75 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Basic 64-Bit Englisch, System Builder Version windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic 64-Bit Englisch, System Builder Version 66G-00660
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   94,01 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Premium Englisch, System Builder Version windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Englisch, System Builder Version 66I-00715
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   117,81 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Business Upgrade Englisch windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Business Upgrade Englisch 66J-00023
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   260,61 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Premium Upgrade Englisch windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Upgrade Englisch 66I-00018
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   213,01 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Basic Englisch, System Builder Version windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Englisch, System Builder Version 66G-00576
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 5,70  -  Kategorie: Software   94,01 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Basic Upgrade Englisch windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Upgrade Englisch 66G-00017
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   141,61 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Premium Upgrade englisch DVD windows
, Plattform: Windows XP Windows Vista
0882224181297
Versandkosten:  Gratis  -  Kategorie: Software   229,00 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Amazon.de

 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade Englisch windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade Englisch 66R-00021
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   343,91 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Englisch, System Builder Version windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit Englisch, System Builder Version 66I-00788
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   117,81 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit Englisch, System Builder Version windows
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit Englisch, System Builder Version 66R-00838
Lieferzeit: bis 5 Tage   -  Versandkosten: 10,70  -  Kategorie: Software   201,11 €
(inkl. gesetzl. MwSt.)
Von Misco Online
 
 
  MICROSOFT Windows Vista Business (ohne Media Player) Upgrade englisch DVD windows  279 €

I like the one at the end: "without Windows Media Player"

-tomos (February 02, 2007, 05:58 AM)

I love the fourth one "No operating system" .... 

4950

General Software Discussion / Re: Ripoff Britain strikes again ... this time with Vista Pricing

« Last post by Carol Haynes on February 02, 2007, 05:50 AM »

By the way, talking about Vista pricing, why is that during months people had been getting mad about Vista saying that with that prices they would make the switch to Mac and Linux, and claiming about evil Microsoft getting rich at people expense and all sort of nasty things, and nobody ever said: hey, we're talking about Vista RETAIL editions, not about Vista OEM, which, by the way, is a bargain, considering that for 7€ more than XP Pro, I can get Vista Business OEM and for 100€, Vista Home Premium, which includes far more features than old XP.

-Lashiec (February 02, 2007, 05:39 AM)

The reason I chose retail prices is because they are published for all countries by MS so they are comparable - other versions and special offers can reduce the price considerably.

Actually I think MS want people to buy OEM versions now because they changed the EULA for the full versions of VISTA to pretty much match the OEM EULA (and then backtracked a littel when there was a massive outcry). Whether people are technically entitled to buy the OEM version is another matter - they are after all only supposed to be supplied to system builders but many suppliers are now openly selling them to anyone who coughs up or with a nominal bit of hardware (like a USB cable).