Last Thursday I finally got myself onto ntl: Broadband. I had been thinking about it for a while, and a week before that finally got round to ordering broadband. It's a great service £17.99 for 1mb connection to the internet, through a cable modem. Its a revolution in access, no more waiting for pages to load, videos and sounds arrives in seconds, and software downloads are fast.
Having seen connections to the broadband internet via Cable Modems and ADSL Modems I think that Cablemodemss are far better, as they can plug into yourEthernett port (or USB port) and are literally always on - when you turn the machine on you are connected to the internet, and unlike ADSL modems, there is no nee toinitiatee a connection to the service. If you are thinking of getting a broadband internet service, and you live in an area which has access to cable services from either ntl: or Telewest then go with a service from one of these providers, as you will find you get a better service.
The only downside with this connection is the cap on the service 3gb per month. This unfortunately is the same for most broadband ISPs in the UK, which is a shame, as broadband internet access should not be capped.Especially if the UK wants to be at the forefront of Broadband access.
Monday, May 30, 2005
Saturday, May 21, 2005
The Browser Wars are Back
Well I think they are, now that Netscape have released version 8 of their browser! Netscape 8 is built on Mozilla Firefox technology, and renders pages as Firefox would, but it also has a few tricks up its sleeves.
If you use Firefox, you may come across a site, and the site refuses to load, because it is not Firefox compatible. This meant you had to load Internet Explorer to view the site. Not anymore, because Netscape 8, can switch the page rendering to Internet Explorer, and lo and behold the site you are trying to view will work! You may be thinking that's a good idea, but what about the security implications! Well Netscape have implemented Site Controls. What this means is that they have an online database of websites that can be trusted, so that if a site is dodgy, it will only be rendered in Firefox mode. You can also use the site controls feature yourself. Netscape, like all good browsers do, uses tabbed browsing. Next to the site name on the tab is a security shield. When you click this shield it brings up a list of preferences you can apply to the site, such as which rendering engine to use, and how much you trust the site. In the advanced settings you can specify things such as whether to allow popups, JavaScript etc, and if using IE mode Active X.
Installation is a breeze, but I hated 2 things about it: 1) You download the installer, which runs and downloads Netscape, thus meaning you can't save it to your hard drive and 2) Internet Explorer is set as the default rendering engine. Luckily you can change this, but I would have thought that being a browser based on Firefox, (that supports all current web stands, whereas IE does not) Firefox would have been the default engine. Luckily if you click on advanced when installing, you can change this.
Find out more about Netscape at http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/start8.jsp and download it at http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/
Microsoft should take note - Firefox / Mozilla SeaMonkey and Netscape are here to stay as web browsers, as is Safari and Camino on the Mac and Opera, another great internet browser. Stay tuned for more on the browser wars!
If you use Firefox, you may come across a site, and the site refuses to load, because it is not Firefox compatible. This meant you had to load Internet Explorer to view the site. Not anymore, because Netscape 8, can switch the page rendering to Internet Explorer, and lo and behold the site you are trying to view will work! You may be thinking that's a good idea, but what about the security implications! Well Netscape have implemented Site Controls. What this means is that they have an online database of websites that can be trusted, so that if a site is dodgy, it will only be rendered in Firefox mode. You can also use the site controls feature yourself. Netscape, like all good browsers do, uses tabbed browsing. Next to the site name on the tab is a security shield. When you click this shield it brings up a list of preferences you can apply to the site, such as which rendering engine to use, and how much you trust the site. In the advanced settings you can specify things such as whether to allow popups, JavaScript etc, and if using IE mode Active X.
Installation is a breeze, but I hated 2 things about it: 1) You download the installer, which runs and downloads Netscape, thus meaning you can't save it to your hard drive and 2) Internet Explorer is set as the default rendering engine. Luckily you can change this, but I would have thought that being a browser based on Firefox, (that supports all current web stands, whereas IE does not) Firefox would have been the default engine. Luckily if you click on advanced when installing, you can change this.
Find out more about Netscape at http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/start8.jsp and download it at http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/
Microsoft should take note - Firefox / Mozilla SeaMonkey and Netscape are here to stay as web browsers, as is Safari and Camino on the Mac and Opera, another great internet browser. Stay tuned for more on the browser wars!
Sunday, May 15, 2005
Thoughts
It's been just over a year or so since I started writing a blog on the internet. I amazed that I manage to keep going with this blog, and keep adding entries to it. I was thinking to myself, I wonder if many people read this blog, would be nice to have people I didn't know read it. That though is probably asking just a little too much.
Been thinking recently about doing something to get in shape, and improve my fitness. I reckon doing scanning on the checkout at work is a good start to fitness, as you are constantly moving your arms from right to left when scanning, although that only helps the upper body I guess, and not the rest of the body. I did get my bike out and start cycling, but got bored of that, I guess because there was no one to do it with. Hopefully thought, in the next week or so I will be doing regular exercise with a friend! More on this to follow...
Been thinking recently about doing something to get in shape, and improve my fitness. I reckon doing scanning on the checkout at work is a good start to fitness, as you are constantly moving your arms from right to left when scanning, although that only helps the upper body I guess, and not the rest of the body. I did get my bike out and start cycling, but got bored of that, I guess because there was no one to do it with. Hopefully thought, in the next week or so I will be doing regular exercise with a friend! More on this to follow...
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Democratic Rantings
Read an interesting article in yesterdays UK daily newspaper, The independent. They have started a campaign for a better way of voting in this country, as from what I read 1 in 5 people voted for the Labour party in the recent general election, yet the Labour party is still the party with the majority of votes. It seems they share the same views as I do that our voting system is not right and needs to be changed. I fully support the Independents campaign for a fairer voting system in this country.
If you want to make your vote count in the next election visit http://www.makemyvotecount.org.uk and sign their petition. Also visit http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/publications/briefings/avplus.htm and read all about the AV+ voting system, which to me seems a great way to vote, and an easy one at that. All you do is mark on the ballot paper, the candidates you would like to see elected in order of preference. The votes are then counted, and if no one candidate has 50% of the votes, then the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and his votes are re-assigned to other candidates, depending on which is the voters 2nd choice etc. Eventually a candidate will get 50% of the vote, and be fairly elected. There will also be a county vote as well to ensure that all parties get fair representation in Parliament. I think this makes a great voting system, and gets my vote.
In summary, I really believe that one day we will all be able to vote, safe in the knowledge that our vote has counted.
If you want to make your vote count in the next election visit http://www.makemyvotecount.org.uk and sign their petition. Also visit http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/publications/briefings/avplus.htm and read all about the AV+ voting system, which to me seems a great way to vote, and an easy one at that. All you do is mark on the ballot paper, the candidates you would like to see elected in order of preference. The votes are then counted, and if no one candidate has 50% of the votes, then the candidate with the least votes is eliminated, and his votes are re-assigned to other candidates, depending on which is the voters 2nd choice etc. Eventually a candidate will get 50% of the vote, and be fairly elected. There will also be a county vote as well to ensure that all parties get fair representation in Parliament. I think this makes a great voting system, and gets my vote.
In summary, I really believe that one day we will all be able to vote, safe in the knowledge that our vote has counted.
Comments
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Monday, May 09, 2005
Thats it for 4 Years or so
Oh well, another 4/5 years of Tony Blair's Labour government. Still at least he has a reduced majority. It would have been really good if he lost the election, but that didn't happen. It was good on the night to see that Michael Howards Conservative party won quite a few more seats. Labour have 356, losing 47 seats the Conservatives 197 gaining 33 seats and the Liberal Democrats 62 gaining 11 seats.
It's great to see the Liberal Deomocrats doing well. It means that we are entering a period of 3 party politics at last, something that is needed in this country. Now if we could only get the way we vote changed to something like this, 75% of seats decided on 1st past the post - ie get the most votes to win, and rest decided on voter share - ie get 22% of vote, get 22% of the remaining 25% of seats decided this way, so for example if there where 600 seats, 400 would be decided by the most votes wins, and the remaining 200 by share of the votes. If voting was done this way, then the Liberal Democrats would have a much better voice in parliament, and it would be easier to topple a governing party.
In my own constituency, the news is not good Michael Mates is still the MP, but with a reduce majority of 5,509 which means that his majority has gone down again. Once people realise the Liberal Democrats could win round here, Michael Mates may well be history!
It's great to see the Liberal Deomocrats doing well. It means that we are entering a period of 3 party politics at last, something that is needed in this country. Now if we could only get the way we vote changed to something like this, 75% of seats decided on 1st past the post - ie get the most votes to win, and rest decided on voter share - ie get 22% of vote, get 22% of the remaining 25% of seats decided this way, so for example if there where 600 seats, 400 would be decided by the most votes wins, and the remaining 200 by share of the votes. If voting was done this way, then the Liberal Democrats would have a much better voice in parliament, and it would be easier to topple a governing party.
In my own constituency, the news is not good Michael Mates is still the MP, but with a reduce majority of 5,509 which means that his majority has gone down again. Once people realise the Liberal Democrats could win round here, Michael Mates may well be history!
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Build it Yourself
Yesterday I bought a new computer operators chair for my room, with a leather trim, from a local store. This chair required making it yourself, which I had no problem with. When I unpacked the chair I thought it shouldn't be too difficult as long as I follow the instructions. Upon reading the instructions, I realised that if I followed them I would not be able to put the chair together. Eventually I got 95% of the chair built, and came to the arm rests for the chair. One of the arm rests fitted like a glove, the other refused to, as 2 of the 3 holes were not cut out correctly. After making the holes bigger, buy removing some of the fabric I managed to get the arm rest to fit.
It seems that manufacturers of build it yourself furniture, cant seem to be able to make holes for screws that align up correctly, are too small, or hidden by fabric that hasn't been cut correctly. I feel it is about time that manufacturers made sure that everything worked as it should when it left the factory.
Only thing I have to do now is change my mouse pad from an ergonomic one to an ordinary one, as due to the height of the chair, my wrist does not work well with this type of mouse pad. I might even be tempted to lower the height of my monitor, so that I get a better view, tho I am not sure on this.
It seems that manufacturers of build it yourself furniture, cant seem to be able to make holes for screws that align up correctly, are too small, or hidden by fabric that hasn't been cut correctly. I feel it is about time that manufacturers made sure that everything worked as it should when it left the factory.
Only thing I have to do now is change my mouse pad from an ergonomic one to an ordinary one, as due to the height of the chair, my wrist does not work well with this type of mouse pad. I might even be tempted to lower the height of my monitor, so that I get a better view, tho I am not sure on this.
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