COMPUTER CHINCHAT
From Vince Chin
Freenets
After Anna Constantinou's problem in the March Call Sign Mailshot page with
Dixon's Free Internet service, http://www.freeserve.co.uk I decided to check out one of their competitors, http://www.freenet.co.uk to see
how they fared.
Firstly Freenet's Help Desk is a lot cheaper at 50 pence a minute compared to
Freeserve's £1 a minute, but still quite expensive if you have problems setting up your
connection. To subscribe to Freenet, you must already have access to the Internet to visit
their web site, here you will be asked for your name, address and telephone number, and
that's all. I'm still acclimatising myself to ISP's not requesting your credit card
details, a little while ago it was a prerequisite to joining many of them.
I don't know how long Freenet have been active in the ISP arena but I wasn't
overly impressed with their web site. Basically they used an MS Front-page framed template
without customising it to suit their own corporate image - assuming they have one. Anyway,
once you're there you will find all the details required for creating a free account, if
you're an expert!
There are three levels of assistance in creating an account, Step by Step
(for Newbies), Expert, and Download Connection Manager (a program for automating the
installation). I went straight for the Expert section and had my account setup on my
machine within minutes, the only problem was that they stated that it would take 24-48
hours for them to make it active at their end. So 24 hours later I was surfing the Net and
reading/sending my emails on chinvb@freenet.co.uk
The Step by Step section I found was adequate, but judging by past experience I'd
Do they get my recommendation? Yes if you're an expert, but no if you're not.
And Back to the Trade
Back again to the taxi trade. Last year KPMUK launched their web site on http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~kpmuk
or http://www.kpmuktaxis.com and their
secretary Steve Ryder asked the taxicab web site's discussion list members for some
suggestions as to what they should put on their web site. He didn't get a response from
the list members and that is exactly what's on their site!
I think the least said about their site the better, but I'll just mention
bad/awful graphics, Error 404 hyperlinks, no content, no design, in fact the best part of
their web site is the taxi links page - from here you can leave their site.
The taxi trades first on-line Knowledge discussion list started two months
age on the taxicab web site, http://www.taxicab.co.uk
Now it's not very often that I advertise my site but I feel it's worth mentioning -
especially since it's free! The email address is theknowledge@taxicab.co.uk and is the
first phase of an on-line Knowledge School. So far the questions have centred on the exact
location of points and how you'd call certain runs at the Carriage Office, a nice
complement to the more traditional Knowledge schools.
C Ya
Vince Chin
the Tower o
They start with Anne's arrival at the Tower in 1533 shortly after her marriage to Henry VIII, when she was accompanied by 50 barges and the deafening sound of gun salutes as she prepared for her coronation the following day. The tour continues as the characters move forward three years and to the White Tower for revelations about her show trial when she was accused of adultery by her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk.
The tour is suitable for everyone and is highly recommended by Call Sign as an excellent way of learning more about our history.
Incidentally, if you haven’t seen the Crown Jewels since you had to walk around the previous glass case risking a ‘thick ear’ if you stopped, then the multi-media presentation they have now will leave you breathless.
Tower of London inclusive ticket prices are:
Adults £10.50, Seniors £7.90, Children £6.90 with under-five’s free.
Family tickets for up to 2 adults and 3 children are £31.
