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+gate1

This website contains an archive of files for the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Acorn Archimedes, Commodore 16 and Commodore 64 computers, which Dominic Ford has rescued from his private collection of floppy disks and cassettes.

Some of these files were originally commercial releases in the 1980s and 1990s, but they are now widely available online. I assume that copyright over them is no longer being asserted. If you own the copyright and would like files to be removed, please contact me.

Tape/disk: Home » Personal collection » Acorn ADFS disks » Electron_User_Group » EUG_43.ADF
Filename: +gate1
Read OK: ✔
File size: 169B bytes
Load address: 2B206576
Exec address: 65746167
Duplicates

There is 1 duplicate copy of this file in the archive:

File contents
Someone asked me way EUG doesn' have its own web site. We do. I need some
help programming it though. Once I can get the hang of it I'll be ok but I
really need someone to help me get started.

x-stream.fortuncity.com/prodigy/40

And oor email address:

electronuser@x-stream.co.uk

In February I noticed a payment on my credit card bill for $24.95 paid on
14 January  to some company called DMR* INFO@4HLP.COM

I didn't recognise it but assumed I must have forgotton. I was quite busy
on the net in December.

In March the same company took the same ammount again on the 14 February .
Now I knew I hadn't authorised this one so I contacted the card company.
They said they would look into it and try to get the money back. 

In April the same company had 2 payments of $24.95 on the same day.

I phoned the card company. They told me that if a registered dealer had my
card details then they could take and continue to take money from my
account untill I wrote to them telling them to stop. 

But I don't know who they are and even if I did write would they pay any
attention?

I pointed out that they had taken 2 payments on the same day. They can do
that apparently. They can take whatever they want so long as it's
'reasonable'.

I cancelled the card.

Now this raises an interesting possability for a scam. If someone was to
get a dealership for the credit card companies they could, as these people
have done, get a hold of people's card details and simply pull in the
money. The card companies aren't interested and by the time victums
realised what was happening and cancelled their cards quite a bit of money
could have been accumulated. In my case almost $100

Someone could get the details by offering a genunine product or service.
It seems like easy money. The card company certainly don't seem to believe
me when I say I don't know anything about this company.

I contacted several card companies, all say that under similar
circumstances they would act in the same way as my card company. 

I understand that this is not an uncommon problem. Apperently the main
offenders are the adult sites. Well as a warm blooded englishman I must
confess to having visited an occasional adult site, for research purposes
only you understand. But I don't understand why the card companies seem to
think it's ok to let companies with card dealerships take what they want
and card holders can't do anything about it. Especially when so many
people are complaining.

The free internet service providers are expanding in number all the time.

I read an article in a newspaper recently. Some chap regailing against the
free ISPs. His two main points were that free ISPs are difficult to log
into and are full of advertising.

I don't know which planet he's on. Free ISPs are generally easy to log
into with one exception and the internet is 90% advertising.

That exception is x-stream.co.uk

x-stream is so successful that as well as being free to log into it is now
offering some weekends and even some Fridays and Mondays with 0800, ie
free telephone calls as well! It's so busy that you really need to be
lucky to get in. 

x-stream is especially good ofcourse because as well as offering access to
the internet it also has a great 'home' site with chat rooms, games rooms
and a few other facilities.

virgin.co.uk has now started it's own free ISP and is offering some great
facilities as well. Though not as yet free telephone calls. I am still
waiting for a CD so that I can join.

One experience I'm pleased to say I haven't had is VIRUSES. I did however
think early about installing some anti-virus software. I noticed that a
few companies were offering free copies of McAfee Anti-Virus. Well
anything free can't be all that bad so I had a go. Soon after my PC
started to lock up. I took the mcAfee software out and the problem
disappeared. I decided that it must be something to do with the software
being free so I went to PC World and bought the McAfee System Tools for
abour 40 quids.

My machine started to lock up about once every hour.

I took it back despite being told by several people that all software
shops will rarely take back software unless there is something definately
wrong. I however was determined and wasn't going to take no for an answer.

The assistant loaded the McAfee software into his computer and after a few
moments it too locked up. Wow. I did it. I got my money back.

I have since been told that McAfee have a bad reputation for poor quality
software. The shops will say that no-one complains but what is the point
of complaining if the shops refuse to listen because no-one else has
complained!

I now have Norton's System Works. It cost a bit more but no problems at
all and it has a number of facilities which make it very handy.

I have been asked if I have any advice for anyone buying a PC now. Well as
everyone knows, I've had my PC since October so I can't claim extensive
experience. But one thing I will say is try to buy it from a local shop
which promices some tuition and after sales backup. I bought mine from a
mail-order company. I saved several hundred pounds. The help-line will
only advise me on problems with the hardware. If something does go wrong I
will have to post it to Nottingham to get repaired. 

Also I was given a pile of free software, mostly games. None of it will
work. It is designed for old operating systems.

Some shops are offering good deals with printers, scanners and even
cameras thrown in. Check exactly what price you will have to pay in total.
Check exactly where you will need to take your machine for repair. Home
repairs usually need a hefty extra payment.

Losing the extras may be worthwhile if you get good backup. 

And one final point, send me your e-mail address.

electronuser@x-stream.co.uk

00000000  53 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20  61 73 6b 65 64 20 6d 65  |Someone asked me|
00000010  20 77 61 79 20 45 55 47  20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 20  | way EUG doesn' |
00000020  68 61 76 65 20 69 74 73  20 6f 77 6e 20 77 65 62  |have its own web|
00000030  20 73 69 74 65 2e 20 57  65 20 64 6f 2e 20 49 20  | site. We do. I |
00000040  6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d  65 0d 68 65 6c 70 20 70  |need some.help p|
00000050  72 6f 67 72 61 6d 6d 69  6e 67 20 69 74 20 74 68  |rogramming it th|
00000060  6f 75 67 68 2e 20 4f 6e  63 65 20 49 20 63 61 6e  |ough. Once I can|
00000070  20 67 65 74 20 74 68 65  20 68 61 6e 67 20 6f 66  | get the hang of|
00000080  20 69 74 20 49 27 6c 6c  20 62 65 20 6f 6b 20 62  | it I'll be ok b|
00000090  75 74 20 49 0d 72 65 61  6c 6c 79 20 6e 65 65 64  |ut I.really need|
000000a0  20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65  20 74 6f 20 68 65 6c 70  | someone to help|
000000b0  20 6d 65 20 67 65 74 20  73 74 61 72 74 65 64 2e  | me get started.|
000000c0  0d 0d 78 2d 73 74 72 65  61 6d 2e 66 6f 72 74 75  |..x-stream.fortu|
000000d0  6e 63 69 74 79 2e 63 6f  6d 2f 70 72 6f 64 69 67  |ncity.com/prodig|
000000e0  79 2f 34 30 0d 0d 41 6e  64 20 6f 6f 72 20 65 6d  |y/40..And oor em|
000000f0  61 69 6c 20 61 64 64 72  65 73 73 3a 0d 0d 65 6c  |ail address:..el|
00000100  65 63 74 72 6f 6e 75 73  65 72 40 78 2d 73 74 72  |ectronuser@x-str|
00000110  65 61 6d 2e 63 6f 2e 75  6b 0d 0d 49 6e 20 46 65  |eam.co.uk..In Fe|
00000120  62 72 75 61 72 79 20 49  20 6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64  |bruary I noticed|
00000130  20 61 20 70 61 79 6d 65  6e 74 20 6f 6e 20 6d 79  | a payment on my|
00000140  20 63 72 65 64 69 74 20  63 61 72 64 20 62 69 6c  | credit card bil|
00000150  6c 20 66 6f 72 20 24 32  34 2e 39 35 20 70 61 69  |l for $24.95 pai|
00000160  64 20 6f 6e 0d 31 34 20  4a 61 6e 75 61 72 79 20  |d on.14 January |
00000170  20 74 6f 20 73 6f 6d 65  20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79  | to some company|
00000180  20 63 61 6c 6c 65 64 20  44 4d 52 2a 20 49 4e 46  | called DMR* INF|
00000190  4f 40 34 48 4c 50 2e 43  4f 4d 0d 0d 49 20 64 69  |O@4HLP.COM..I di|
000001a0  64 6e 27 74 20 72 65 63  6f 67 6e 69 73 65 20 69  |dn't recognise i|
000001b0  74 20 62 75 74 20 61 73  73 75 6d 65 64 20 49 20  |t but assumed I |
000001c0  6d 75 73 74 20 68 61 76  65 20 66 6f 72 67 6f 74  |must have forgot|
000001d0  74 6f 6e 2e 20 49 20 77  61 73 20 71 75 69 74 65  |ton. I was quite|
000001e0  20 62 75 73 79 0d 6f 6e  20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 74  | busy.on the net|
000001f0  20 69 6e 20 44 65 63 65  6d 62 65 72 2e 0d 0d 49  | in December...I|
00000200  6e 20 4d 61 72 63 68 20  74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65  |n March the same|
00000210  20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79  20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68  | company took th|
00000220  65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 61  6d 6d 6f 75 6e 74 20 61  |e same ammount a|
00000230  67 61 69 6e 20 6f 6e 20  74 68 65 20 31 34 20 46  |gain on the 14 F|
00000240  65 62 72 75 61 72 79 20  2e 0d 4e 6f 77 20 49 20  |ebruary ..Now I |
00000250  6b 6e 65 77 20 49 20 68  61 64 6e 27 74 20 61 75  |knew I hadn't au|
00000260  74 68 6f 72 69 73 65 64  20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 6e  |thorised this on|
00000270  65 20 73 6f 20 49 20 63  6f 6e 74 61 63 74 65 64  |e so I contacted|
00000280  20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72  64 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e  | the card compan|
00000290  79 2e 0d 54 68 65 79 20  73 61 69 64 20 74 68 65  |y..They said the|
000002a0  79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20  6c 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 74  |y would look int|
000002b0  6f 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64  20 74 72 79 20 74 6f 20  |o it and try to |
000002c0  67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20  6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 62 61  |get the money ba|
000002d0  63 6b 2e 20 0d 0d 49 6e  20 41 70 72 69 6c 20 74  |ck. ..In April t|
000002e0  68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20  63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 79 20  |he same company |
000002f0  68 61 64 20 32 20 70 61  79 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 6f  |had 2 payments o|
00000300  66 20 24 32 34 2e 39 35  20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20  |f $24.95 on the |
00000310  73 61 6d 65 20 64 61 79  2e 0d 0d 49 20 70 68 6f  |same day...I pho|
00000320  6e 65 64 20 74 68 65 20  63 61 72 64 20 63 6f 6d  |ned the card com|
00000330  70 61 6e 79 2e 20 54 68  65 79 20 74 6f 6c 64 20  |pany. They told |
00000340  6d 65 20 74 68 61 74 20  69 66 20 61 20 72 65 67  |me that if a reg|
00000350  69 73 74 65 72 65 64 20  64 65 61 6c 65 72 20 68  |istered dealer h|
00000360  61 64 20 6d 79 0d 63 61  72 64 20 64 65 74 61 69  |ad my.card detai|
00000370  6c 73 20 74 68 65 6e 20  74 68 65 79 20 63 6f 75  |ls then they cou|
00000380  6c 64 20 74 61 6b 65 20  61 6e 64 20 63 6f 6e 74  |ld take and cont|
00000390  69 6e 75 65 20 74 6f 20  74 61 6b 65 20 6d 6f 6e  |inue to take mon|
000003a0  65 79 20 66 72 6f 6d 20  6d 79 0d 61 63 63 6f 75  |ey from my.accou|
000003b0  6e 74 20 75 6e 74 69 6c  6c 20 49 20 77 72 6f 74  |nt untill I wrot|
000003c0  65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65  6d 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e  |e to them tellin|
000003d0  67 20 74 68 65 6d 20 74  6f 20 73 74 6f 70 2e 20  |g them to stop. |
000003e0  0d 0d 42 75 74 20 49 20  64 6f 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e  |..But I don't kn|
000003f0  6f 77 20 77 68 6f 20 74  68 65 79 20 61 72 65 20  |ow who they are |
00000400  61 6e 64 20 65 76 65 6e  20 69 66 20 49 20 64 69  |and even if I di|
00000410  64 20 77 72 69 74 65 20  77 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 68  |d write would th|
00000420  65 79 20 70 61 79 20 61  6e 79 0d 61 74 74 65 6e  |ey pay any.atten|
00000430  74 69 6f 6e 3f 0d 0d 49  20 70 6f 69 6e 74 65 64  |tion?..I pointed|
00000440  20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 61  74 20 74 68 65 79 20 68  | out that they h|
00000450  61 64 20 74 61 6b 65 6e  20 32 20 70 61 79 6d 65  |ad taken 2 payme|
00000460  6e 74 73 20 6f 6e 20 74  68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20  |nts on the same |
00000470  64 61 79 2e 20 54 68 65  79 20 63 61 6e 20 64 6f  |day. They can do|
00000480  0d 74 68 61 74 20 61 70  70 61 72 65 6e 74 6c 79  |.that apparently|
00000490  2e 20 54 68 65 79 20 63  61 6e 20 74 61 6b 65 20  |. They can take |
000004a0  77 68 61 74 65 76 65 72  20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61  |whatever they wa|
000004b0  6e 74 20 73 6f 20 6c 6f  6e 67 20 61 73 20 69 74  |nt so long as it|
000004c0  27 73 0d 27 72 65 61 73  6f 6e 61 62 6c 65 27 2e  |'s.'reasonable'.|
000004d0  0d 0d 49 20 63 61 6e 63  65 6c 6c 65 64 20 74 68  |..I cancelled th|
000004e0  65 20 63 61 72 64 2e 0d  0d 4e 6f 77 20 74 68 69  |e card...Now thi|
000004f0  73 20 72 61 69 73 65 73  20 61 6e 20 69 6e 74 65  |s raises an inte|
00000500  72 65 73 74 69 6e 67 20  70 6f 73 73 61 62 69 6c  |resting possabil|
00000510  69 74 79 20 66 6f 72 20  61 20 73 63 61 6d 2e 20  |ity for a scam. |
00000520  49 66 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f  6e 65 20 77 61 73 20 74  |If someone was t|
00000530  6f 0d 67 65 74 20 61 20  64 65 61 6c 65 72 73 68  |o.get a dealersh|
00000540  69 70 20 66 6f 72 20 74  68 65 20 63 72 65 64 69  |ip for the credi|
00000550  74 20 63 61 72 64 20 63  6f 6d 70 61 6e 69 65 73  |t card companies|
00000560  20 74 68 65 79 20 63 6f  75 6c 64 2c 20 61 73 20  | they could, as |
00000570  74 68 65 73 65 20 70 65  6f 70 6c 65 0d 68 61 76  |these people.hav|
00000580  65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2c 20  67 65 74 20 61 20 68 6f  |e done, get a ho|
00000590  6c 64 20 6f 66 20 70 65  6f 70 6c 65 27 73 20 63  |ld of people's c|
000005a0  61 72 64 20 64 65 74 61  69 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20  |ard details and |
000005b0  73 69 6d 70 6c 79 20 70  75 6c 6c 20 69 6e 20 74  |simply pull in t|
000005c0  68 65 0d 6d 6f 6e 65 79  2e 20 54 68 65 20 63 61  |he.money. The ca|
000005d0  72 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 61  6e 69 65 73 20 61 72 65  |rd companies are|
000005e0  6e 27 74 20 69 6e 74 65  72 65 73 74 65 64 20 61  |n't interested a|
000005f0  6e 64 20 62 79 20 74 68  65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 76  |nd by the time v|
00000600  69 63 74 75 6d 73 0d 72  65 61 6c 69 73 65 64 20  |ictums.realised |
00000610  77 68 61 74 20 77 61 73  20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 69  |what was happeni|
00000620  6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 63  61 6e 63 65 6c 6c 65 64  |ng and cancelled|
00000630  20 74 68 65 69 72 20 63  61 72 64 73 20 71 75 69  | their cards qui|
00000640  74 65 20 61 20 62 69 74  20 6f 66 20 6d 6f 6e 65  |te a bit of mone|
00000650  79 0d 63 6f 75 6c 64 20  68 61 76 65 20 62 65 65  |y.could have bee|
00000660  6e 20 61 63 63 75 6d 75  6c 61 74 65 64 2e 20 49  |n accumulated. I|
00000670  6e 20 6d 79 20 63 61 73  65 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74  |n my case almost|
00000680  20 24 31 30 30 0d 0d 53  6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 63  | $100..Someone c|
00000690  6f 75 6c 64 20 67 65 74  20 74 68 65 20 64 65 74  |ould get the det|
000006a0  61 69 6c 73 20 62 79 20  6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e 67  |ails by offering|
000006b0  20 61 20 67 65 6e 75 6e  69 6e 65 20 70 72 6f 64  | a genunine prod|
000006c0  75 63 74 20 6f 72 20 73  65 72 76 69 63 65 2e 0d  |uct or service..|
000006d0  49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73  20 6c 69 6b 65 20 65 61  |It seems like ea|
000006e0  73 79 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79  2e 20 54 68 65 20 63 61  |sy money. The ca|
000006f0  72 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 61  6e 79 20 63 65 72 74 61  |rd company certa|
00000700  69 6e 6c 79 20 64 6f 6e  27 74 20 73 65 65 6d 20  |inly don't seem |
00000710  74 6f 20 62 65 6c 69 65  76 65 0d 6d 65 20 77 68  |to believe.me wh|
00000720  65 6e 20 49 20 73 61 79  20 49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74  |en I say I don't|
00000730  20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 61 6e  79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61  | know anything a|
00000740  62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 69  73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e  |bout this compan|
00000750  79 2e 0d 0d 49 20 63 6f  6e 74 61 63 74 65 64 20  |y...I contacted |
00000760  73 65 76 65 72 61 6c 20  63 61 72 64 20 63 6f 6d  |several card com|
00000770  70 61 6e 69 65 73 2c 20  61 6c 6c 20 73 61 79 20  |panies, all say |
00000780  74 68 61 74 20 75 6e 64  65 72 20 73 69 6d 69 6c  |that under simil|
00000790  61 72 0d 63 69 72 63 75  6d 73 74 61 6e 63 65 73  |ar.circumstances|
000007a0  20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f  75 6c 64 20 61 63 74 20  | they would act |
000007b0  69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73  61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20  |in the same way |
000007c0  61 73 20 6d 79 20 63 61  72 64 20 63 6f 6d 70 61  |as my card compa|
000007d0  6e 79 2e 20 0d 0d 49 20  75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61  |ny. ..I understa|
000007e0  6e 64 20 74 68 61 74 20  74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20  |nd that this is |
000007f0  6e 6f 74 20 61 6e 20 75  6e 63 6f 6d 6d 6f 6e 20  |not an uncommon |
00000800  70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 2e  20 41 70 70 65 72 65 6e  |problem. Apperen|
00000810  74 6c 79 20 74 68 65 20  6d 61 69 6e 0d 6f 66 66  |tly the main.off|
00000820  65 6e 64 65 72 73 20 61  72 65 20 74 68 65 20 61  |enders are the a|
00000830  64 75 6c 74 20 73 69 74  65 73 2e 20 57 65 6c 6c  |dult sites. Well|
00000840  20 61 73 20 61 20 77 61  72 6d 20 62 6c 6f 6f 64  | as a warm blood|
00000850  65 64 20 65 6e 67 6c 69  73 68 6d 61 6e 20 49 20  |ed englishman I |
00000860  6d 75 73 74 0d 63 6f 6e  66 65 73 73 20 74 6f 20  |must.confess to |
00000870  68 61 76 69 6e 67 20 76  69 73 69 74 65 64 20 61  |having visited a|
00000880  6e 20 6f 63 63 61 73 69  6f 6e 61 6c 20 61 64 75  |n occasional adu|
00000890  6c 74 20 73 69 74 65 2c  20 66 6f 72 20 72 65 73  |lt site, for res|
000008a0  65 61 72 63 68 20 70 75  72 70 6f 73 65 73 0d 6f  |earch purposes.o|
000008b0  6e 6c 79 20 79 6f 75 20  75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61  |nly you understa|
000008c0  6e 64 2e 20 42 75 74 20  49 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20  |nd. But I don't |
000008d0  75 6e 64 65 72 73 74 61  6e 64 20 77 68 79 20 74  |understand why t|
000008e0  68 65 20 63 61 72 64 20  63 6f 6d 70 61 6e 69 65  |he card companie|
000008f0  73 20 73 65 65 6d 20 74  6f 0d 74 68 69 6e 6b 20  |s seem to.think |
00000900  69 74 27 73 20 6f 6b 20  74 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 63  |it's ok to let c|
00000910  6f 6d 70 61 6e 69 65 73  20 77 69 74 68 20 63 61  |ompanies with ca|
00000920  72 64 20 64 65 61 6c 65  72 73 68 69 70 73 20 74  |rd dealerships t|
00000930  61 6b 65 20 77 68 61 74  20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61  |ake what they wa|
00000940  6e 74 0d 61 6e 64 20 63  61 72 64 20 68 6f 6c 64  |nt.and card hold|
00000950  65 72 73 20 63 61 6e 27  74 20 64 6f 20 61 6e 79  |ers can't do any|
00000960  74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62  6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e 20  |thing about it. |
00000970  45 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c  6c 79 20 77 68 65 6e 20  |Especially when |
00000980  73 6f 20 6d 61 6e 79 0d  70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 61  |so many.people a|
00000990  72 65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c  61 69 6e 69 6e 67 2e 0d  |re complaining..|
000009a0  0d 54 68 65 20 66 72 65  65 20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e  |.The free intern|
000009b0  65 74 20 73 65 72 76 69  63 65 20 70 72 6f 76 69  |et service provi|
000009c0  64 65 72 73 20 61 72 65  20 65 78 70 61 6e 64 69  |ders are expandi|
000009d0  6e 67 20 69 6e 20 6e 75  6d 62 65 72 20 61 6c 6c  |ng in number all|
000009e0  20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6d  65 2e 0d 0d 49 20 72 65  | the time...I re|
000009f0  61 64 20 61 6e 20 61 72  74 69 63 6c 65 20 69 6e  |ad an article in|
00000a00  20 61 20 6e 65 77 73 70  61 70 65 72 20 72 65 63  | a newspaper rec|
00000a10  65 6e 74 6c 79 2e 20 53  6f 6d 65 20 63 68 61 70  |ently. Some chap|
00000a20  20 72 65 67 61 69 6c 69  6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e  | regailing again|
00000a30  73 74 20 74 68 65 0d 66  72 65 65 20 49 53 50 73  |st the.free ISPs|
00000a40  2e 20 48 69 73 20 74 77  6f 20 6d 61 69 6e 20 70  |. His two main p|
00000a50  6f 69 6e 74 73 20 77 65  72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20  |oints were that |
00000a60  66 72 65 65 20 49 53 50  73 20 61 72 65 20 64 69  |free ISPs are di|
00000a70  66 66 69 63 75 6c 74 20  74 6f 20 6c 6f 67 0d 69  |fficult to log.i|
00000a80  6e 74 6f 20 61 6e 64 20  61 72 65 20 66 75 6c 6c  |nto and are full|
00000a90  20 6f 66 20 61 64 76 65  72 74 69 73 69 6e 67 2e  | of advertising.|
00000aa0  0d 0d 49 20 64 6f 6e 27  74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77  |..I don't know w|
00000ab0  68 69 63 68 20 70 6c 61  6e 65 74 20 68 65 27 73  |hich planet he's|
00000ac0  20 6f 6e 2e 20 46 72 65  65 20 49 53 50 73 20 61  | on. Free ISPs a|
00000ad0  72 65 20 67 65 6e 65 72  61 6c 6c 79 20 65 61 73  |re generally eas|
00000ae0  79 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 67  0d 69 6e 74 6f 20 77 69  |y to log.into wi|
00000af0  74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 65  78 63 65 70 74 69 6f 6e  |th one exception|
00000b00  20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  20 69 6e 74 65 72 6e 65  | and the interne|
00000b10  74 20 69 73 20 39 30 25  20 61 64 76 65 72 74 69  |t is 90% adverti|
00000b20  73 69 6e 67 2e 0d 0d 54  68 61 74 20 65 78 63 65  |sing...That exce|
00000b30  70 74 69 6f 6e 20 69 73  20 78 2d 73 74 72 65 61  |ption is x-strea|
00000b40  6d 2e 63 6f 2e 75 6b 0d  0d 78 2d 73 74 72 65 61  |m.co.uk..x-strea|
00000b50  6d 20 69 73 20 73 6f 20  73 75 63 63 65 73 73 66  |m is so successf|
00000b60  75 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20  61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 20  |ul that as well |
00000b70  61 73 20 62 65 69 6e 67  20 66 72 65 65 20 74 6f  |as being free to|
00000b80  20 6c 6f 67 20 69 6e 74  6f 20 69 74 20 69 73 20  | log into it is |
00000b90  6e 6f 77 0d 6f 66 66 65  72 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d  |now.offering som|
00000ba0  65 20 77 65 65 6b 65 6e  64 73 20 61 6e 64 20 65  |e weekends and e|
00000bb0  76 65 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65  20 46 72 69 64 61 79 73  |ven some Fridays|
00000bc0  20 61 6e 64 20 4d 6f 6e  64 61 79 73 20 77 69 74  | and Mondays wit|
00000bd0  68 20 30 38 30 30 2c 20  69 65 0d 66 72 65 65 20  |h 0800, ie.free |
00000be0  74 65 6c 65 70 68 6f 6e  65 20 63 61 6c 6c 73 20  |telephone calls |
00000bf0  61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 21  20 49 74 27 73 20 73 6f  |as well! It's so|
00000c00  20 62 75 73 79 20 74 68  61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 72  | busy that you r|
00000c10  65 61 6c 6c 79 20 6e 65  65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65  |eally need to be|
00000c20  0d 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 74  6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e  |.lucky to get in|
00000c30  2e 20 0d 0d 78 2d 73 74  72 65 61 6d 20 69 73 20  |. ..x-stream is |
00000c40  65 73 70 65 63 69 61 6c  6c 79 20 67 6f 6f 64 20  |especially good |
00000c50  6f 66 63 6f 75 72 73 65  20 62 65 63 61 75 73 65  |ofcourse because|
00000c60  20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c  20 61 73 20 6f 66 66 65  | as well as offe|
00000c70  72 69 6e 67 20 61 63 63  65 73 73 20 74 6f 0d 74  |ring access to.t|
00000c80  68 65 20 69 6e 74 65 72  6e 65 74 20 69 74 20 61  |he internet it a|
00000c90  6c 73 6f 20 68 61 73 20  61 20 67 72 65 61 74 20  |lso has a great |
00000ca0  27 68 6f 6d 65 27 20 73  69 74 65 20 77 69 74 68  |'home' site with|
00000cb0  20 63 68 61 74 20 72 6f  6f 6d 73 2c 20 67 61 6d  | chat rooms, gam|
00000cc0  65 73 20 72 6f 6f 6d 73  0d 61 6e 64 20 61 20 66  |es rooms.and a f|
00000cd0  65 77 20 6f 74 68 65 72  20 66 61 63 69 6c 69 74  |ew other facilit|
00000ce0  69 65 73 2e 0d 0d 76 69  72 67 69 6e 2e 63 6f 2e  |ies...virgin.co.|
00000cf0  75 6b 20 68 61 73 20 6e  6f 77 20 73 74 61 72 74  |uk has now start|
00000d00  65 64 20 69 74 27 73 20  6f 77 6e 20 66 72 65 65  |ed it's own free|
00000d10  20 49 53 50 20 61 6e 64  20 69 73 20 6f 66 66 65  | ISP and is offe|
00000d20  72 69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d  65 20 67 72 65 61 74 0d  |ring some great.|
00000d30  66 61 63 69 6c 69 74 69  65 73 20 61 73 20 77 65  |facilities as we|
00000d40  6c 6c 2e 20 54 68 6f 75  67 68 20 6e 6f 74 20 61  |ll. Though not a|
00000d50  73 20 79 65 74 20 66 72  65 65 20 74 65 6c 65 70  |s yet free telep|
00000d60  68 6f 6e 65 20 63 61 6c  6c 73 2e 20 49 20 61 6d  |hone calls. I am|
00000d70  20 73 74 69 6c 6c 0d 77  61 69 74 69 6e 67 20 66  | still.waiting f|
00000d80  6f 72 20 61 20 43 44 20  73 6f 20 74 68 61 74 20  |or a CD so that |
00000d90  49 20 63 61 6e 20 6a 6f  69 6e 2e 0d 0d 4f 6e 65  |I can join...One|
00000da0  20 65 78 70 65 72 69 65  6e 63 65 20 49 27 6d 20  | experience I'm |
00000db0  70 6c 65 61 73 65 64 20  74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 49  |pleased to say I|
00000dc0  20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74  20 68 61 64 20 69 73 20  | haven't had is |
00000dd0  56 49 52 55 53 45 53 2e  20 49 20 64 69 64 20 68  |VIRUSES. I did h|
00000de0  6f 77 65 76 65 72 0d 74  68 69 6e 6b 20 65 61 72  |owever.think ear|
00000df0  6c 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74  20 69 6e 73 74 61 6c 6c  |ly about install|
00000e00  69 6e 67 20 73 6f 6d 65  20 61 6e 74 69 2d 76 69  |ing some anti-vi|
00000e10  72 75 73 20 73 6f 66 74  77 61 72 65 2e 20 49 20  |rus software. I |
00000e20  6e 6f 74 69 63 65 64 20  74 68 61 74 20 61 0d 66  |noticed that a.f|
00000e30  65 77 20 63 6f 6d 70 61  6e 69 65 73 20 77 65 72  |ew companies wer|
00000e40  65 20 6f 66 66 65 72 69  6e 67 20 66 72 65 65 20  |e offering free |
00000e50  63 6f 70 69 65 73 20 6f  66 20 4d 63 41 66 65 65  |copies of McAfee|
00000e60  20 41 6e 74 69 2d 56 69  72 75 73 2e 20 57 65 6c  | Anti-Virus. Wel|
00000e70  6c 0d 61 6e 79 74 68 69  6e 67 20 66 72 65 65 20  |l.anything free |
00000e80  63 61 6e 27 74 20 62 65  20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 61  |can't be all tha|
00000e90  74 20 62 61 64 20 73 6f  20 49 20 68 61 64 20 61  |t bad so I had a|
00000ea0  20 67 6f 2e 20 53 6f 6f  6e 20 61 66 74 65 72 20  | go. Soon after |
00000eb0  6d 79 20 50 43 0d 73 74  61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f  |my PC.started to|
00000ec0  20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 75 70  2e 20 49 20 74 6f 6f 6b  | lock up. I took|
00000ed0  20 74 68 65 20 6d 63 41  66 65 65 20 73 6f 66 74  | the mcAfee soft|
00000ee0  77 61 72 65 20 6f 75 74  20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65  |ware out and the|
00000ef0  20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d  0d 64 69 73 61 70 70 65  | problem.disappe|
00000f00  61 72 65 64 2e 20 49 20  64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20  |ared. I decided |
00000f10  74 68 61 74 20 69 74 20  6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20  |that it must be |
00000f20  73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e  67 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20  |something to do |
00000f30  77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65  20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72  |with the softwar|
00000f40  65 0d 62 65 69 6e 67 20  66 72 65 65 20 73 6f 20  |e.being free so |
00000f50  49 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74  6f 20 50 43 20 57 6f 72  |I went to PC Wor|
00000f60  6c 64 20 61 6e 64 20 62  6f 75 67 68 74 20 74 68  |ld and bought th|
00000f70  65 20 4d 63 41 66 65 65  20 53 79 73 74 65 6d 20  |e McAfee System |
00000f80  54 6f 6f 6c 73 20 66 6f  72 0d 61 62 6f 75 72 20  |Tools for.abour |
00000f90  34 30 20 71 75 69 64 73  2e 0d 0d 4d 79 20 6d 61  |40 quids...My ma|
00000fa0  63 68 69 6e 65 20 73 74  61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f  |chine started to|
00000fb0  20 6c 6f 63 6b 20 75 70  20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 6f  | lock up about o|
00000fc0  6e 63 65 20 65 76 65 72  79 20 68 6f 75 72 2e 0d  |nce every hour..|
00000fd0  0d 49 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20  69 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20  |.I took it back |
00000fe0  64 65 73 70 69 74 65 20  62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 6f  |despite being to|
00000ff0  6c 64 20 62 79 20 73 65  76 65 72 61 6c 20 70 65  |ld by several pe|
00001000  6f 70 6c 65 20 74 68 61  74 20 61 6c 6c 20 73 6f  |ople that all so|
00001010  66 74 77 61 72 65 0d 73  68 6f 70 73 20 77 69 6c  |ftware.shops wil|
00001020  6c 20 72 61 72 65 6c 79  20 74 61 6b 65 20 62 61  |l rarely take ba|
00001030  63 6b 20 73 6f 66 74 77  61 72 65 20 75 6e 6c 65  |ck software unle|
00001040  73 73 20 74 68 65 72 65  20 69 73 20 73 6f 6d 65  |ss there is some|
00001050  74 68 69 6e 67 20 64 65  66 69 6e 61 74 65 6c 79  |thing definately|
00001060  0d 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 20  49 20 68 6f 77 65 76 65  |.wrong. I howeve|
00001070  72 20 77 61 73 20 64 65  74 65 72 6d 69 6e 65 64  |r was determined|
00001080  20 61 6e 64 20 77 61 73  6e 27 74 20 67 6f 69 6e  | and wasn't goin|
00001090  67 20 74 6f 20 74 61 6b  65 20 6e 6f 20 66 6f 72  |g to take no for|
000010a0  20 61 6e 20 61 6e 73 77  65 72 2e 0d 0d 54 68 65  | an answer...The|
000010b0  20 61 73 73 69 73 74 61  6e 74 20 6c 6f 61 64 65  | assistant loade|
000010c0  64 20 74 68 65 20 4d 63  41 66 65 65 20 73 6f 66  |d the McAfee sof|
000010d0  74 77 61 72 65 20 69 6e  74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 63  |tware into his c|
000010e0  6f 6d 70 75 74 65 72 20  61 6e 64 20 61 66 74 65  |omputer and afte|
000010f0  72 20 61 20 66 65 77 0d  6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 20  |r a few.moments |
00001100  69 74 20 74 6f 6f 20 6c  6f 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70  |it too locked up|
00001110  2e 20 57 6f 77 2e 20 49  20 64 69 64 20 69 74 2e  |. Wow. I did it.|
00001120  20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 6d  79 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20  | I got my money |
00001130  62 61 63 6b 2e 0d 0d 49  20 68 61 76 65 20 73 69  |back...I have si|
00001140  6e 63 65 20 62 65 65 6e  20 74 6f 6c 64 20 74 68  |nce been told th|
00001150  61 74 20 4d 63 41 66 65  65 20 68 61 76 65 20 61  |at McAfee have a|
00001160  20 62 61 64 20 72 65 70  75 74 61 74 69 6f 6e 20  | bad reputation |
00001170  66 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72  20 71 75 61 6c 69 74 79  |for poor quality|
00001180  0d 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72  65 2e 20 54 68 65 20 73  |.software. The s|
00001190  68 6f 70 73 20 77 69 6c  6c 20 73 61 79 20 74 68  |hops will say th|
000011a0  61 74 20 6e 6f 2d 6f 6e  65 20 63 6f 6d 70 6c 61  |at no-one compla|
000011b0  69 6e 73 20 62 75 74 20  77 68 61 74 20 69 73 20  |ins but what is |
000011c0  74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e  74 0d 6f 66 20 63 6f 6d  |the point.of com|
000011d0  70 6c 61 69 6e 69 6e 67  20 69 66 20 74 68 65 20  |plaining if the |
000011e0  73 68 6f 70 73 20 72 65  66 75 73 65 20 74 6f 20  |shops refuse to |
000011f0  6c 69 73 74 65 6e 20 62  65 63 61 75 73 65 20 6e  |listen because n|
00001200  6f 2d 6f 6e 65 20 65 6c  73 65 20 68 61 73 0d 63  |o-one else has.c|
00001210  6f 6d 70 6c 61 69 6e 65  64 21 0d 0d 49 20 6e 6f  |omplained!..I no|
00001220  77 20 68 61 76 65 20 4e  6f 72 74 6f 6e 27 73 20  |w have Norton's |
00001230  53 79 73 74 65 6d 20 57  6f 72 6b 73 2e 20 49 74  |System Works. It|
00001240  20 63 6f 73 74 20 61 20  62 69 74 20 6d 6f 72 65  | cost a bit more|
00001250  20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 20  70 72 6f 62 6c 65 6d 73  | but no problems|
00001260  20 61 74 0d 61 6c 6c 20  61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 68  | at.all and it h|
00001270  61 73 20 61 20 6e 75 6d  62 65 72 20 6f 66 20 66  |as a number of f|
00001280  61 63 69 6c 69 74 69 65  73 20 77 68 69 63 68 20  |acilities which |
00001290  6d 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20  76 65 72 79 20 68 61 6e  |make it very han|
000012a0  64 79 2e 0d 0d 49 20 68  61 76 65 20 62 65 65 6e  |dy...I have been|
000012b0  20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 69  66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65  | asked if I have|
000012c0  20 61 6e 79 20 61 64 76  69 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20  | any advice for |
000012d0  61 6e 79 6f 6e 65 20 62  75 79 69 6e 67 20 61 20  |anyone buying a |
000012e0  50 43 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20  57 65 6c 6c 20 61 73 0d  |PC now. Well as.|
000012f0  65 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65  20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 2c 20  |everyone knows, |
00001300  49 27 76 65 20 68 61 64  20 6d 79 20 50 43 20 73  |I've had my PC s|
00001310  69 6e 63 65 20 4f 63 74  6f 62 65 72 20 73 6f 20  |ince October so |
00001320  49 20 63 61 6e 27 74 20  63 6c 61 69 6d 20 65 78  |I can't claim ex|
00001330  74 65 6e 73 69 76 65 0d  65 78 70 65 72 69 65 6e  |tensive.experien|
00001340  63 65 2e 20 42 75 74 20  6f 6e 65 20 74 68 69 6e  |ce. But one thin|
00001350  67 20 49 20 77 69 6c 6c  20 73 61 79 20 69 73 20  |g I will say is |
00001360  74 72 79 20 74 6f 20 62  75 79 20 69 74 20 66 72  |try to buy it fr|
00001370  6f 6d 20 61 20 6c 6f 63  61 6c 20 73 68 6f 70 0d  |om a local shop.|
00001380  77 68 69 63 68 20 70 72  6f 6d 69 63 65 73 20 73  |which promices s|
00001390  6f 6d 65 20 74 75 69 74  69 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20  |ome tuition and |
000013a0  61 66 74 65 72 20 73 61  6c 65 73 20 62 61 63 6b  |after sales back|
000013b0  75 70 2e 20 49 20 62 6f  75 67 68 74 20 6d 69 6e  |up. I bought min|
000013c0  65 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61  0d 6d 61 69 6c 2d 6f 72  |e from a.mail-or|
000013d0  64 65 72 20 63 6f 6d 70  61 6e 79 2e 20 49 20 73  |der company. I s|
000013e0  61 76 65 64 20 73 65 76  65 72 61 6c 20 68 75 6e  |aved several hun|
000013f0  64 72 65 64 20 70 6f 75  6e 64 73 2e 20 54 68 65  |dred pounds. The|
00001400  20 68 65 6c 70 2d 6c 69  6e 65 20 77 69 6c 6c 0d  | help-line will.|
00001410  6f 6e 6c 79 20 61 64 76  69 73 65 20 6d 65 20 6f  |only advise me o|
00001420  6e 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65  6d 73 20 77 69 74 68 20  |n problems with |
00001430  74 68 65 20 68 61 72 64  77 61 72 65 2e 20 49 66  |the hardware. If|
00001440  20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  6e 67 20 64 6f 65 73 20  | something does |
00001450  67 6f 20 77 72 6f 6e 67  20 49 0d 77 69 6c 6c 20  |go wrong I.will |
00001460  68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20  70 6f 73 74 20 69 74 20  |have to post it |
00001470  74 6f 20 4e 6f 74 74 69  6e 67 68 61 6d 20 74 6f  |to Nottingham to|
00001480  20 67 65 74 20 72 65 70  61 69 72 65 64 2e 20 0d  | get repaired. .|
00001490  0d 41 6c 73 6f 20 49 20  77 61 73 20 67 69 76 65  |.Also I was give|
000014a0  6e 20 61 20 70 69 6c 65  20 6f 66 20 66 72 65 65  |n a pile of free|
000014b0  20 73 6f 66 74 77 61 72  65 2c 20 6d 6f 73 74 6c  | software, mostl|
000014c0  79 20 67 61 6d 65 73 2e  20 4e 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66  |y games. None of|
000014d0  20 69 74 20 77 69 6c 6c  0d 77 6f 72 6b 2e 20 49  | it will.work. I|
000014e0  74 20 69 73 20 64 65 73  69 67 6e 65 64 20 66 6f  |t is designed fo|
000014f0  72 20 6f 6c 64 20 6f 70  65 72 61 74 69 6e 67 20  |r old operating |
00001500  73 79 73 74 65 6d 73 2e  0d 0d 53 6f 6d 65 20 73  |systems...Some s|
00001510  68 6f 70 73 20 61 72 65  20 6f 66 66 65 72 69 6e  |hops are offerin|
00001520  67 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64  65 61 6c 73 20 77 69 74  |g good deals wit|
00001530  68 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65  72 73 2c 20 73 63 61 6e  |h printers, scan|
00001540  6e 65 72 73 20 61 6e 64  20 65 76 65 6e 0d 63 61  |ners and even.ca|
00001550  6d 65 72 61 73 20 74 68  72 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 2e  |meras thrown in.|
00001560  20 43 68 65 63 6b 20 65  78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 77  | Check exactly w|
00001570  68 61 74 20 70 72 69 63  65 20 79 6f 75 20 77 69  |hat price you wi|
00001580  6c 6c 20 68 61 76 65 20  74 6f 20 70 61 79 20 69  |ll have to pay i|
00001590  6e 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 2e  0d 43 68 65 63 6b 20 65  |n total..Check e|
000015a0  78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 77  68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75  |xactly where you|
000015b0  20 77 69 6c 6c 20 6e 65  65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 61  | will need to ta|
000015c0  6b 65 20 79 6f 75 72 20  6d 61 63 68 69 6e 65 20  |ke your machine |
000015d0  66 6f 72 20 72 65 70 61  69 72 2e 20 48 6f 6d 65  |for repair. Home|
000015e0  0d 72 65 70 61 69 72 73  20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79  |.repairs usually|
000015f0  20 6e 65 65 64 20 61 20  68 65 66 74 79 20 65 78  | need a hefty ex|
00001600  74 72 61 20 70 61 79 6d  65 6e 74 2e 0d 0d 4c 6f  |tra payment...Lo|
00001610  73 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65  20 65 78 74 72 61 73 20  |sing the extras |
00001620  6d 61 79 20 62 65 20 77  6f 72 74 68 77 68 69 6c  |may be worthwhil|
00001630  65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75  20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 6f  |e if you get goo|
00001640  64 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70  2e 20 0d 0d 41 6e 64 20  |d backup. ..And |
00001650  6f 6e 65 20 66 69 6e 61  6c 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2c  |one final point,|
00001660  20 73 65 6e 64 20 6d 65  20 79 6f 75 72 20 65 2d  | send me your e-|
00001670  6d 61 69 6c 20 61 64 64  72 65 73 73 2e 0d 0d 65  |mail address...e|
00001680  6c 65 63 74 72 6f 6e 75  73 65 72 40 78 2d 73 74  |lectronuser@x-st|
00001690  72 65 61 6d 2e 63 6f 2e  75 6b 0d                 |ream.co.uk.|
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