[blacklion1725]

agree – just throwing in an alternative…… if your router supports a USB printer then you may be able to connect that way. My Asus router works that way – if I click “print” from a PC/Laptop/Phone/Tablet the router wakes up the printer and off it goes. Only works if the printer/router locations are practical.

Sorry ignore me – mine is connected via ethernet not usb – apologies – as you were!

[blacklion1725]

Bob I’ve been using the Clarity extensively for cash withdrawals for 7 years at a guess in Europe and Beyond. They have never hinted at dropping the credit limit and in fact have offered to increase it more than once – I wouldn’t worry. Withdrawing cash abroad with it is one of its main advantages – and will save a considerable some over changing-up locally before you travel. Of course you can pay for almost everything by card now, so the cash factor is less significant – but I wouldn’t be deterred by that warning in any case.

[blacklion1725]

I did French and German at school – was OK at French – hated German (harder to learn). Wish I’d stuck at one or both. Worth downloading the languages you may need for google translate if you haven’t already – won’t work for speech off line but does for typing in either direction!

Zwei Bier Bitte – Auf Wiedersehen!

[blacklion1725]

Yep get that Dave – just putting up some options.  Completely agree spending on cards abroad is an absolute minefield. I’ll probably be simplifying my cards/accounts due to my changed circumstances – the one I absolutely will keep is the Halifax.

[blacklion1725]

I use the Halifax Clarity. A pleasant surprise when I got it was that you can pre-load it with credit before you travel, and so you will never risk any interest at all – even on cash withdrawals. There’s no charges at all as long as you stick to “proper” bank ATMs. My backup for European travel is a Metrobank debit card (free for everything in Europe only). Again for European travel the Nationwide Flex debit card gives zero charges for cash withdrawals while the Credit card is free for purchases (you can pre-load this one as well). In all these cases you get the Visa or Mastercard rate which is the base rate near as damn it.

[blacklion1725]

Looks nice Ed – be interested to see how you get on

[blacklion1725]

Have had experience of a few of these through me, other half and kids – ranging from full on Smartwatch to fitness-only to “bit of both” – all depends on the essential features. I have a Xiaomi (WeLoop) watch that I would class as a sports watch with a few smart features. Similar at feature level to the Fitbit Charge but battery life is way, way better. If I don’t use GPS would do weeks on end – easily a month. It will give whichever notifications you enable, and is waterproof. It is not a full on Smartwatch though.

I tried the Huawei band but returned it – similar shape and feel to the fitbits (i.e. band) which I’m not keen on. I had a play with the Huawei Watch 2 (a Smartwatch) which was very nice but way over the top for me and you pay for it in battery life.

One of mine has the Xiaomi Amazfit watch – which is very nice – quite a bit bigger – more features (bluetooth music for example) and you can side load otherapps on to it. Battery life with normal use is only 5 days though – less if you hammer the GPS.

[blacklion1725]

Hadn’t realised he played with them – even though I would almost have seen them with him in the lineup! I know what you mean about Punk, but it actually started under Callaghan’s labour government as did 2-Tone. Maggie didn’t come in till 79…..the sentiment carried on though and I remember the Red Wedge tour in the mid 80s.

[blacklion1725]

Richard I’m with you on 99% of it but at 53 (me) it SHOULD be 🙂 I grew up with my mum playing Elvis which I loved and still do but when she heard the Clash/Pistols/Specials/Jam/Madness etc she would shake her head in disbelief. We’re not meant to get it……Its a young man’s game

[blacklion1725]

Thanks for that – just downloaded it – been away for a week. Saw the Cure live around 1981 – not really my main interest at the time but they were very good back then. Look forward to seeing this set. Not sure he should still have all the slap on though – or maybe he should!.

[blacklion1725]

+1 for the nipple thingy – my elitebook has one too – way better than the touchpad which I disable. I generally use a mouse indoors but when out and about the nipple thingy wins all day- aside from being more accurate it is sell easy to use by accident than the touchpad.</p>

[blacklion1725]

Blimey never had a shop refuse cash – I’m in greater London. Our public transport runs on contactless or Oyster Cards – buses don’t take cash at all now. I must admit if you’re in a busy pub waiting to get served then contactless does speed thing along. Don’t tend to use it as it seems TOO easy. Worst thing about cash now is these plastic fivers and tenners that you can’t fold, roll or do anything with. Hate the things.

[blacklion1725]

Cheers for that Ed.

[blacklion1725]

I’m sure the normal Windows 10 USB installation drive (Media Creation Tool) can be used to restore an image created with the W7 System Image Backup. If that is what you mean in the post above “using W10s own systems” then I think you are fine. I’m referring to the USB you can create here. Been a while but sure I’ve done that. If you can get it t work the the “Advanced Startup” will also give you an option to recover from a saved Image (Settings/Backup & Recovery/Recovery/Advanced/Startup) – depends how stuffed windows is I suppose. Been mentioned on another thread I keep images but would be inclined to clean install these days seeing how quick it is (and my config is simple, and data is on a different partition to windows). I also agree Easeus is very good.

[blacklion1725]

I’ve managed to find and pin stuff to the start menu and taskbar. It is useable and I can get by with it – just don’t like it. I don’t like searching for stuff either – don’t know why – maybe reminds me of Windows 8.0. I’ve got a microsoft mouse that has a button on the side that launches the start menu – and can get by. On the plus (and more important) side can’t remember the last crash I had on Windows 10 – its been incredibly stable – even with the avalanche of massive updates that comes along every so often.

[blacklion1725]

Thanks Boris – I used to use Start10 (from when it was Start8 with the borderline unusable Widows 8.0. I’ve decided to lump it with the W10 Start Menu so as I don’t go looking for options which aren’t there when I use a different PC. My old thinkpad is the communal laptop here and still going strong. Stuck an SSD in it (it is an older I5) and still lightning quick. Agree about the keyboard on the old’uns…. superb even if the laptops are not the prettiest. My personal weapon of choice is still the HP Elitebook 840 G1 as recommended by Dave – it is fully pimped with an M2 SSD, WiFi-AC card and a WWAN 3G card.  Just about perfect size and specs for me and a doddle to tinker with as the back lifts off with the slide of a switch/catch.

[blacklion1725]

must admit I still dislike the W10 menu. Searching works well, I just don’t like it. I have important stuff pinned to the start menu and/or task bar – but the absence of any text in the start menu (just icons) still grates…..don’t like it….never will….but can work round it/tolerate it.

[blacklion1725]

Those multi-tools are brilliant – got a cordless Ryobi one (one+ battery sharing range) and a Makita corded one. They are both brilliant. I’m reasonably sure there are cheap adapters to make accessories compatible Bob…..could be wrong but the cheap (just as good) ends from Aldi – and Lidl fit both of mine (one tool needs an adapter – can’t remember which).

[blacklion1725]

Remember it well Dave – also Monkey from that era/genre.

[blacklion1725]

Had to replace our oven about 18 months ago. MFI had originally fitted a 13A plug oven – inexplicably as there was a suitable spur in place for the oven it replaced (and they removed the spur!) Wonder why they went bust. Anyway managed to get an Indesit 13A plug model from Currys, but as linked above they are very few and far between.

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