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From: T i m on 29 Apr 2010 03:43 On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:03:50 +0100, usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk (Woody) wrote: >> To be fair I think the Collect in store system has got more >> complicated of late so possibly less easy for them to do. I have had >> them do stuff for me previously and they were ok about it. > >ok. Well, I think some try harder than other, That's true. Harlow for example seems pretty pro-active and always actually has stuff out and waiting for you when you do a reservation. On that, I did a Collect in store on Currys the other day and they phoned me 10 mins after placing the reservation telling me my item was ready for collection. I was quite pleased about that as no one else seemed to have it in stock and I though the one they had may have been a computer-glitch. ;-) > and to be fair, our local >one isn't so bad. I think they are getting better in general. > >> >> Ah, ta, so for 'our' use the 800 + MiFi would be ok. >> > >> >Yes, should be fine. The 800 has very good wireless, good battery life, >> >runs most things. keyboard is a bit stiff but you get used to it. >> >> Might suit my one fingered pecking quite well then. ;-) > >Its not so bad. I was ok with the onscreen keyboard of the 770, but it >does give you more scope, and after a while you do get used to it. The >iPhone is quicker. Ok. I think I still prefer real keyboards, however I was quite surprised how accurate the Touch one was, once I realised it wasn't the T|X and that it didn't respond to my fingernail! > >> >Or any of the previous series, such as the 770. It occurs to me now mine >> >is the 810, I have a 770 too, which is the one I went across the states >> >with. >> >> How does the 810 screen and browser compare with the Touch would you >> say? > >In what way? In general (as you kindly go on to describe). ;-) > It is higher resolution for sure, the 810 has 800x400 >resolution so 225 ppi, compared to the iPods 480x320 at 163 ppi >(although aparently the next ones are much higher res), so in theory the >810s screen would be finer, and it does have nice fonts (although >actually bigger), but the passive touch screen means there is a sort of >sparkly effect, so the iPods screen is clearer. Ok. I like the 800 x bit as I assume more web sites fit in the display without horizontal scrolling (or having to zoom to read it). > >The UI of the 810 you may prefer as it has more traditional menus etc, >which may suit you better. Probably yes. > It is a linux distribution, there is quite a >lot of software, most of it free, although nothing like the amount for >the iPod / iPhone. (I've just download the Ubuntu 10.04RC. I am actually quite interested to see what it's like). >It has a GPS in there, which since the original software update isn't so >bad, I'm still not sure about the (my) need to have a GPS on me as such. My latest Garmin Nuvi 215T) is pretty small, seems 'all singing and dancing' (very sensitive, BT, Traffic, Postcode lookup, loads of POI options etc etc) but isn't as good a routing device as the Garmin V, Quest, 2610 or 2620. If you select 'shortest distance' on any of them, that's exactly what you get (for the currently selected transport type .... so 'walking' will send you up one-way-streets and vehicular dead-ends etc). Shortest on the Nuvi seems to be 'sortof shortest'. > although the software for it isn't great, other than you can use >maemo mapper to use your own maps. Not done that yet and not sure if I ever would. > >I would take a pic of them side by side for you, but the nokia needs >charging at the moment Ok thanks, I would be interested to see them side by side (as I've played with the Touch a bit now and have the T|X etc). > >> >No idea, as I said mine was unlocked when I got it from ebay, but you >> >can get them on the three website PAYG. >> >> I can't see if the credit is non expiring though. > >It is expiring, that is the way 3 do it unfortunately. Np if I can get my Voda SIM in there. Does the MiFi take the std phone sized SIM (although I'm not sure if I know what constitutes 'std' any more)? > >> >I don't know how the DC >> >unlocking stuff works, never used it (the last things I unlocked were >> >all done by the suppliers) >> >> Ok, ta. >> >> If we are talking about vfm and flexibility I think the Zoom (3G >> Wireless-N Travel -) router could be a better option (for me) than the >> MiFi. Ok, it's probably not as compact but I wouldn't need to worry >> about unlocking or compatibility between SIMs and services (as it >> takes the std USB dongle). > >Well, the unlocked compatibility is ok, I know that. I do have a menu on >the web user interface for the other manufacturers, vodaphone is on >there) and the web shows people who use it that way. Understood. And you can use it as a USB dongle I understand? However, I still like the idea of the Zoom if for no other reason than it's a real router (and Duncan Kennedy has one and likes it) and because I don't have a specific role for it I think it may be more flexible for me. > >> This also means the dongle might be >> relocated remotely from the router a bit by a USB extension cable. [1] > >why does that help? Say you were in a bad signal area and wanted to remote the dongle up off the TV aerial bracket etc? I tried that (running the dongle on a USB extension lead) with the Router I was trying to sort for my mate the other day and whilst it worked it seemed to drop out after a while (however that could have been anything). Where daughter is up in Scotland they get no Freeview coverage and barely get any mobile coverage in the house (apart from Voda in some places) but do get some of the others (like my T-Mob) when you go near a window or upstairs (and better near a window). An idea for possibly better broadband speeds (they currently get about 256k on ADSL) was to remote a Voda dongle off one of the mbb routers as a backup if not alternative bb setup for them. A 5m cable would see the dongle 4m above the window sill (suitable waterproofed etc) and still have 1m of cable inside to go to the router. From my PMR work connections, A.R. training and personal experience I know how important height can be for such things. Cheers, T i m
From: Woody on 29 Apr 2010 04:05 T i m <news(a)spaced.me.uk> wrote: > On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:03:50 +0100, usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk (Woody) > wrote: > > >> To be fair I think the Collect in store system has got more > >> complicated of late so possibly less easy for them to do. I have had > >> them do stuff for me previously and they were ok about it. > > > >ok. Well, I think some try harder than other, > > That's true. Harlow for example seems pretty pro-active and always > actually has stuff out and waiting for you when you do a reservation. > On that, I did a Collect in store on Currys the other day and they > phoned me 10 mins after placing the reservation telling me my item was > ready for collection. I was quite pleased about that as no one else > seemed to have it in stock and I though the one they had may have been > a computer-glitch. ;-) > > > and to be fair, our local > >one isn't so bad. > > I think they are getting better in general. When others was bad ours was quite good. i think it is more down to the staff how they impliment the instructions, and I guess at a certain point down to the managers how they instruct the staff on how to deal with things. I think the recession has done good things for a lot of customer services > >> Might suit my one fingered pecking quite well then. ;-) > > > >Its not so bad. I was ok with the onscreen keyboard of the 770, but it > >does give you more scope, and after a while you do get used to it. The > >iPhone is quicker. > > Ok. I think I still prefer real keyboards, however I was quite > surprised how accurate the Touch one was, once I realised it wasn't > the T|X and that it didn't respond to my fingernail! the 770 one does respond to the fingernail - not as good as the touch. > >> >Or any of the previous series, such as the 770. It occurs to me now mine > >> >is the 810, I have a 770 too, which is the one I went across the states > >> >with. > >> > >> How does the 810 screen and browser compare with the Touch would you > >> say? > > > >In what way? > > In general (as you kindly go on to describe). ;-) > > > It is higher resolution for sure, the 810 has 800x400 > >resolution so 225 ppi, compared to the iPods 480x320 at 163 ppi > >(although aparently the next ones are much higher res), so in theory the > >810s screen would be finer, and it does have nice fonts (although > >actually bigger), but the passive touch screen means there is a sort of > >sparkly effect, so the iPods screen is clearer. > > Ok. I like the 800 x bit as I assume more web sites fit in the display > without horizontal scrolling (or having to zoom to read it). Not really, I mean the display is still physically small, so although it will fit in without rescaling as much, it is hard to read, and zooming is nowhere near as fluid as the iPod, You have to make things bigger on the screen so you can read them, then scroll with normal scroll bars. It is a lot slower. It is better for other things, such as chat applications etc. > >It has a GPS in there, which since the original software update isn't so > >bad, > > I'm still not sure about the (my) need to have a GPS on me as such. Well, no, it is a nice to have as well > My > latest Garmin Nuvi 215T) is pretty small, seems 'all singing and > dancing' (very sensitive, BT, Traffic, Postcode lookup, loads of POI > options etc etc) but isn't as good a routing device as the Garmin V, > Quest, 2610 or 2620. If you select 'shortest distance' on any of them, > that's exactly what you get (for the currently selected transport type > ... so 'walking' will send you up one-way-streets and vehicular > dead-ends etc). Shortest on the Nuvi seems to be 'sortof shortest'. > > > although the software for it isn't great, other than you can use > >maemo mapper to use your own maps. > > Not done that yet and not sure if I ever would. > > > >I would take a pic of them side by side for you, but the nokia needs > >charging at the moment > > Ok thanks, I would be interested to see them side by side (as I've > played with the Touch a bit now and have the T|X etc). OK, well, I will charge it tonight. > >> >No idea, as I said mine was unlocked when I got it from ebay, but you > >> >can get them on the three website PAYG. > >> > >> I can't see if the credit is non expiring though. > > > >It is expiring, that is the way 3 do it unfortunately. > > Np if I can get my Voda SIM in there. Does the MiFi take the std phone > sized SIM (although I'm not sure if I know what constitutes 'std' any > more)? Yes. > >Well, the unlocked compatibility is ok, I know that. I do have a menu on > >the web user interface for the other manufacturers, vodaphone is on > >there) and the web shows people who use it that way. > > Understood. And you can use it as a USB dongle I understand? Oh yes, it has a USB socket (which I use for power), and also a micro SD slot so you can use it for storage too when connected as USB > However, > I still like the idea of the Zoom if for no other reason than it's a > real router (and Duncan Kennedy has one and likes it) and because I > don't have a specific role for it I think it may be more flexible for > me. What do you mean by real router? The mifi has a web interface, you can set port translations, DMZ, mac address locking, anti-flood control, etc, it has a real router with about all the control of a normal router. Or do you mean something else? > >> This also means the dongle might be > >> relocated remotely from the router a bit by a USB extension cable. [1] > > > >why does that help? > > Say you were in a bad signal area and wanted to remote the dongle up > off the TV aerial bracket etc? I tried that (running the dongle on a > USB extension lead) with the Router I was trying to sort for my mate > the other day and whilst it worked it seemed to drop out after a while > (however that could have been anything). Where daughter is up in > Scotland they get no Freeview coverage and barely get any mobile > coverage in the house (apart from Voda in some places) but do get some > of the others (like my T-Mob) when you go near a window or upstairs > (and better near a window). An idea for possibly better broadband > speeds (they currently get about 256k on ADSL) was to remote a Voda > dongle off one of the mbb routers as a backup if not alternative bb > setup for them. A 5m cable would see the dongle 4m above the window > sill (suitable waterproofed etc) and still have 1m of cable inside to > go to the router. From my PMR work connections, A.R. training and > personal experience I know how important height can be for such > things. But it is wireless, so why couldn't you just put it there anyway. If you want power, it has a separate power lead (not that I have ever used it but it comes with it). -- Woody
From: T i m on 29 Apr 2010 04:43 On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:05:40 +0100, usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk (Woody) wrote: > >I think the recession has done good things for a lot of customer >services You could be right. > >the 770 one does respond to the fingernail - not as good as the touch. Ok. > > Ok. I like the 800 x bit as I assume more web sites fit in the display >> without horizontal scrolling (or having to zoom to read it). > >Not really, I mean the display is still physically small, so although it >will fit in without rescaling as much, it is hard to read, and zooming >is nowhere near as fluid as the iPod, You have to make things bigger on >the screen so you can read them, then scroll with normal scroll bars. It >is a lot slower. Ok. > >It is better for other things, such as chat applications etc. Ok. > >> >It has a GPS in there, which since the original software update isn't so >> >bad, >> >> I'm still not sure about the (my) need to have a GPS on me as such. > >Well, no, it is a nice to have as well True, if it works etc etc. > >> Ok thanks, I would be interested to see them side by side (as I've >> played with the Touch a bit now and have the T|X etc). > >OK, well, I will charge it tonight. Cheers. > >> Np if I can get my Voda SIM in there. Does the MiFi take the std phone >> sized SIM (although I'm not sure if I know what constitutes 'std' any >> more)? > >Yes. Ta. > >> >Well, the unlocked compatibility is ok, I know that. I do have a menu on >> >the web user interface for the other manufacturers, vodaphone is on >> >there) and the web shows people who use it that way. >> >> Understood. And you can use it as a USB dongle I understand? > >Oh yes, it has a USB socket (which I use for power), That's handy. >and also a micro SD >slot so you can use it for storage too when connected as USB Ok. > >> However, >> I still like the idea of the Zoom if for no other reason than it's a >> real router (and Duncan Kennedy has one and likes it) and because I >> don't have a specific role for it I think it may be more flexible for >> me. > >What do you mean by real router? The mifi has a web interface, you can >set port translations, DMZ, mac address locking, anti-flood control, >etc, it has a real router with about all the control of a normal router. >Or do you mean something else? No, that's sort of what I meant but does the MiFi also have an Ethernet WAN port (so you could use it as a fallback unit) and all the above as standard (without hacking etc)? Also I thought I read you have to push buttons to make it connect? > > >But it is wireless, so why couldn't you just put it there anyway. Well you could, not sure I'd want the whole thing outside (but that would have it's merits). The thing is I'm thinking of it as a versatile solution and think (for me) a router that takes a std mbb USB dongle might be more flexible than a Router/Mobile modem that just takes the SIM (you can re-locate and / or replace the actual radio part with the non MiFi types). Like what I have here with a cable modem and cable router. Each have been changed independently of each other over the years. > If you >want power, it has a separate power lead (not that I have ever used it >but it comes with it). Hmm, the MiFi might be better for the 'up the pole' solution then (being all in one), however, for the Scottish scenario you would probably then have wifi issues as I have already had to talk sonny jim through re-connecting an unused internal extension [1] to be able to re-position the router to give everyone in the house a useable connection. I don't think putting the AP outside would help. ;-( Cheers, T i m [1] It had been disconnected when they were trying to improve their ADSL broadband speed when it was first installed. Unfortunately, it worked for a while (weeks) then stopped and rather than disconnecting the newly re-connected extension as a test they called BT who finally traced the fault to the condition of the extension wire (damaged by being trodden on, under the carpet) and charged them �100 to replace it. It turns out it would have been cheaper to have gone with the Homeplug solution as I first suggested! ;-(
From: Mark on 29 Apr 2010 07:08 On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 01:47:11 +0100, Jaimie Vandenbergh wrote (in article <bllht55uqtgusb2g296nshasfc30h49sqt(a)4ax.com>): > On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 01:03:53 +0100, Mark <captain.black(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > >> On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:07:49 +0100, Sak Wathanasin wrote >> (in article >> <c50b9ccf-b820-400b-87f5-57103104f70f(a)u34g2000yqu.googlegroups.com>): >> >>> On 28 Apr, 15:51, pe...(a)cara.demon.co.uk (Peter Ceresole) wrote: >>> >>> >>>> Towards the end of my working life, I used to carry an NC200. A lot >>>> heavier and more expensive, but searchable. That was the breakthrough. >>> >>> Indeed - I kept a lab notebook for years like I'd been taught to. The >>> trouble was finding stuff again ("What was the passphrase for that >>> certificate I'd installed a couple of years go?"). The Newton for all >>> its faults solved that problem for me and it could capture freehand >>> sketches as well. There are a few sketch/doodle apps for the iPhone >>> though I haven't investigated these as the iPhone screen is too small >>> to be useful. I would guess the iPad in its initial release will only >>> sync notes to Mail.app but perhaps in future you will be able to xfer >>> stuff back and forth (I mean from the Finder, not just from a specific >>> appl). >> >> The iPhone display seems to use a kind of "snap to pixel" approach - not >> really "free" free-hand, and not very/particularly precise - nothing like >> my >> Palms were... > > Evidence appears to disagree: > http://labs.moto.com/robot_touchscreen_analysis/ > > For touchable screen elements (buttons and whatnot) the touchable area > does not necessarily correspond to the button or whatnot. This is > intentional, by design, and far more usable than pixel-perfect touch. > > Cheers - Jaimie > Hmmm.. I think my (completely unscientific!) take on this is the precision with which you could write on the Palms (i.e. use a finger nail, it being - what's the term? A pressure sensitive surface? As opposed to the capacitive(?) screen on the iPhone. Cheers ... Mark
From: musika on 29 Apr 2010 07:56
In news:0001HW.C7FF273800DBC194B01AD9AF(a)eu.Usenet-News.net, Mark <captain.black(a)gmail.com> typed: > > Hmmm.. I think my (completely unscientific!) take on this is the > precision with which you could write on the Palms (i.e. use a finger > nail, it being - what's the term? A pressure sensitive surface? As > opposed to the capacitive(?) screen on the iPhone. "Resistive" is the word. -- Ray UK |