Andy’s Web Blog

Be There Be* Unlimited ADSL2+ has arrived in my humble home office and what a true joy it is to ‘finally’ have instant internet! For a long time I was (foolishly) with Virginmedia ADSL which was poor at the best of times. Days would go by with ‘worse than dial up’ internet connections and no help from there department of jokers - Customer service they called it. But, I then found out that the ‘Be There Be* Unlimited stalk’ had left a little bundle of joy at our local BT exchange – yes a local loop bundle (Sorry bad pun!) had been installed and we could get Be There Be* Unlimited 24meg broadband!

Be There Be* Unlimited do have smaller, more modest, options but at £22 per month I went for the Be Pro package. This includes up to 24 meg download, up to 2.5 meg upload and £3 cheaper than what I was paying with Virginmedia!

Not only does this service actually work, but it flys. I am getting 18.5 meg downstream when Virginmedia would struggle to get 200k! Websites magically appear; at times I think my browser is psychic.

I have to mention their customer support: unlike many other ISP’s that have some and they are brilliant! I am web designer (Andy’s Web) and I need constant uninterrupted internet access. I am also an experienced IT consultant and I provide Broadband set up and troubleshooting to many of my customers. So when I was installing my Netgear DG834N and asked Be There Be* Unlimited for the IP, MAC etc settings, even though it is not the router they supply, a technician took the time to find me the correct settings instead of saying they cannot help as Virginmedia often did.

So I recommend Be* unlimited Broadband to anyone who likes a fast Broadband service that actually works and a customer service team that want to help you!

Link: http://www.bethere.co.uk/

Wordpress is a community designed and supported blogging content management system.

I have been aware of it for sometime but only recently have I actually started to use it for my clients and myself for Blogs that I manage.

The system is driven by a SQL database, now before you go running and hiding away, that is probably that last time you will hear that if you’re a regular user.

The installation is simple. As such, it is nice and easy to get a blog started. The absolute brilliance of the system is the effective and clear way you write and manage the blogs. The entire interface is user friendly and for anyone used to using Microsoft’s Word, it will be easy to pick up.

The best thing about an open-sourced platform such as this is the large number and wide diversity of plugins available for it. For example, you can add you Adsence details to it to display ads from Google.

The most notable customisation is the themes that are readily available and with some css knowledge you can create your own.

Wordpress is a blogging dream, it is easy customisable and free! Give it a try and start and blog, let me know how you do?

I have been using Mozilla Firefox since it was first officially released in (date). I never liked Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. For many technical reasons and for some quirky personal reasons.

Internet Explorer (7) feels chunky, like a truck. It is hard to get going and steering is heavy. When Firefox, is, a fast nippy runner which twists and turns to my every whim!

Also, the entire philosophy of Firefox is that this is your browser. The sheer number of plug-ins and enhancements are amazing. Some of the best include an in built dictionary and an eBay plug-in.

If you have never used it I truly recommend you give it a try.

To try it out click the link below.

It all began, well became popular with the Mac. Someone thought that that large tower was just too much and though let’s put it inside the monitor.

Well, Dell have now release the XPS one. A single form factor dell with all the trimmings. It looks good and performance is high. Value is also up there are well.

(Dell XPS One web page)

But, what interests me is the upgrade ability of the system. How easy is it to put another hard drive in there? Add some more ram to the mix? Such issues need to be taken into consideration.

All in all the single unit format looks good and performs well. They also save space, although would I swap my tower for one? That yet remains to be seen….

I like to build my pc every time I want an upgrade. Now, more than ever one factor that I take into consideration is noise level. Go back 5-6 years, a PC sounded like a vacuum cleaner, the fans causing a vortex that could rival a jet, a hard drive sounding like a racing car and heat exhaust that eliminated the need for central heating! (Pentium 4 anyone).

But today is a nicer time, where components are free range, able to grow up naturally and quietly. They require less power, reduce the fuel bills and also the noise levels.

This is why every time I upgrade a component in my pc I consider the noise levels, the fanless graphics card, the 12cm fans spinning slllooowwwy and the whisper quiet hard drives. (Full pc spec coming in subsequent post)

I also upgrade my components when a new one pops its little head up. Yes, I upgraded my E6750 to an E8400 and benefited from increased performance and quieter operation.

Some people like, for very good reasons, a system that can equal a super computer and as a result is noisy. But each to their own, to me, silence is golden, do you agree?

The king is dead, long live the king, yes Netscape is dead, the browser (wiki link) has been booted out of existence by Internet explorer and torn to shreds’ by Microsoft. It has officially been shelved.

But I will remember you, Netscape, the friendly browser. I remember being at university in 1998 and all the PCs had Netscape and not ie. I remember using ‘composer’ to create my first web page. Now things have moved on for us web designers, Dreamweaver, Ajax, flash etc.

Using Netscape to search in search engines, long before Google really took off, when the results for anything where generally limited to 10 or 20 returns. No web 2.0, I would not even say it was web 1.0.

We miss you Netscape.. But would I trade my Firefox in for you…. Hummm.. May be not… Would you?

Recently I had the pleasure of using a new Macbook with Leopard installed while doing some consultancy work for a customer of Andy’s web. It was a white 13” model at 2.1GHZ and they, upon my advice opted for 2Gb instead of 1GB memory as this little baby had windows approaching!

Such a small thing and yet houses some real power – it is very lite. As with all macbooks since 2006 (ish), under the hood is an Intel dual core processor (Que annoying chimes). Powerful enough to deal with several tasks at once

I was working on this macbook pro for a client, the objective was set it up and install windows XP on it with bootcamp.

For those that have been under a rock or stuck on an island similar to the one featured in ‘Lost’, ever since Apple took this step, I mean logical leap, from PowerPC processor based Macs to Intel based Macs, there was the idea of a Mac dual booting into windows! And, after some well documented and intricate attempts Apple released a beta of an application that does just this - Bootcamp.

Bootcamp its self is now incorporated in Apple’s new incarnation of ‘OS X 10’ Leopard.

You will find the only real major decision is how much space you want for your windows drive

After preparing the Macs drive, you restart the computer… Then you presented with all too familiar windows bios style boot screen. With the XP or Vista CD/DVD in the drive the install starts.

After the, somewhat out dated ‘new features’(As this was Windows XP) articles during the install the system is almost ready. Before you do anything you need to pop the Mac OSX disc in the drive and install the Mac drivers to allow you to use all of the Macs hardware, eg web cam, track pad and keyboard effectively.

Running windows applications is like running them on a pc, the only difference is the keyboard. As there was ‘no spoon’ in a cult movie, there is no delete key(option and backspace works if I recall correctly). This will prove to be a definite learning curve for people used to PC keyboard layouts.

My client has been happy using the Mac as a PC for some time now – I wonder if that is the BIG Steve’s plan he he.

We have all seen them, either used in a car to avoid being socially outcast for using a mobile while driving (and being fined ect.). Also, you see them on people walking down the street to look important and busy - yes waiting for that update on the shopping list from the wife.

But, they do have a genuine usage outside the car and not to double check if the bread should be white or brown.

As part of my web design business, I am often having a telephone consultation with clients for about half an hour at a time. This used to result in the classic tired arm syndrome - ie from holding the phone. I also was one less hand available for making notes directly into my computer (Geek - I hear you say.)

So, I decided to risk the social black hole and get one. A Samsung device (from Play.com ) that only cost £19.99!

I only use it to make or answer calls and never in the popular ‘I am working for the CIA’ capacity!

The call quality is good and only on a bad line does the slight difference in comparison to the handset make any difference.

It also switches between handset and device instantly. Although, that may be due to my blackberry 8820. (I can’t vouch for other phones but I assume they will operate in a similar way.)

It has really come in handy, it has the added advantage of making you feel like you’re not on the phone so, I personally tend to talk as if I am having a chat in person rather than a phone call.

So my advice, if you have to use your phone for a long time and need hands free for that vital note taking, become a closet Bluetooth headset wearer.

But, like me, refrain from wearing it all the time as well… You look silly!

Andy

Andy’s Web - Web Design and IT consultancy

www.andysweb.net

MySpace is dead long live Facebook. As every man and his iPhone carrying dog knows face book is the social networking tool. It is good, I have to give the creators that. They are certainly creating a good example of web 2.0 and how to use Ajax (that is a programming language - not the household cleaner lol.) the Facebook team are always improving the service they provide, a recent-ish service is a Facebook ap for blackberry’s!

The small Facebook app is handy; it has an offline application feel to it (although you need to be online to use it.) Which allows you to message contacts, poke people and write on walls. It also displays status updates and you can change your own update.

If you’re a fan of third party apps like fun wall it will either send you to the Facebook mobile site or you will have to wait until you can log in to a pc.

It is very handy for writing quick notes to people and random poking while you’re travelling! Lol

One other thing, in order for it to work with your phone you have to link your mobile number to Facebook and of course install an application.

If you have a Blackberry then go to the Blackberry site on your phone and give it a try.

Other formats may be available, so best check with your manufacturer/operator.

Thank you

Andy

The Blackberry 8820 has been critically acclaimed as god amongst smart phones by many established magazines and reviewers. It was from such reviews that led me to choose this brilliant device.

In the past I had enjoyed the nokia platforms. Based upon the same base operating system, operation is generally easy to pick up. But as my mobile contract with Orange (UK) draw to an end I needed something that would replace my mobile and my Dell Axim 51v. I also wanted emails on the go.

So it did not take long to decide on the Blackberry 8820.

The phone it’s self is well made, it is sturdy and does not have that cheap light plastic feel that many phones have. The screen quality is sharp and good. You can view images and even videos (encoded correctly on a memory card) appear good. Features include, wifi, bluetooth, gprs to name but three.

The functions of the 8820 are aided by the full qwerty keyboard, no more T9 rubbish! Email, texts and phone functions are brilliant.

The added software, free from Blackberry, of Yahoo messenger and Face book, are very useful.

As the Blackberry format is doing so well Google have recognised it and given it Google maps ( see my review).

The phone is an extension of my PC, a computer on the go. In fact I wrote this Blog on it.

Once you have a Blackberry you will never turn back!!

Andy