mdearlove

Ring up 3 and see if you can get an iphone from them. They buy them on the grey market and have them available to loyal customers. If you are getting one elsewhere then yes it may work on the 3 network as long as its unlocked. Three can send you network settings to use it on their network

no - I didn't get that. Not happy if they have hacked the whole site - all the user details etc too.

Yeah - I was a newzbin user - its a shame its gone the way it has. NZBMatrix is the place now. New ones will constantly spring up. NZBMatrix need to improve their rss feeds though. TVNZB has also gone.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Duracell-Instant-Power-Charger-PPS2/dp/B001GXNJLC/ref=pd_sim_sbs_office_1 works as long as you have the sync cable. It will charge any USB device

the best 3G supplier in the UK is Three IMHO. Their speeds are usually superior to most other providers. Their coverage map is here: http://www.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/Coverage_speed They also have a shop in West Quay so you should be able to pick one up easily. They probably sell them in all the usual mobile phone places. They charge £30 for the dongle and 1GB allowance.

Pretty much all airlines offer these perks to their staff - they are a perk, not a contracted benefit usually. I worked for Virgin for a few years and several people lost their free flights for disciplinary reasons. BA could turn around and stop the program altogether to save money and the staff would have to accept it or leave. EDIT: Just reading some more info about the perks related to the strike - BA have offered the strikers their free flights back - but they will lose their seniority. Basically this means that they go to the back of the priority list regardless if how long they have been with the company. This makes the strike even more ridiculous.

From what I can understand they are arguing over the non-contracted free flights now. Pretty much everyone in my company who usually fly BA (we have 400,000 staff) from the UK have changed to other airlines. I have to fly to Bangalore in India and the only direct carrier is BA. I preferred to book a flight that takes 15 hours via Doha, than the direct flight because of the possibility of another BA strike. I am glad I did as 2 days after booking these ridiculous 5 day strikes were announced. BA is going to go down the pan and Virgin will become the national carrier if it carries on

No - They are flying Virgin Atlantic. Good coup for them to displace BA as the official airline

I find it useful for following people/companies who are in my industry, as well as other tech related folks. Its a good way to find articles that you wouldn't normally come across.

Got back yesterday from Egypt - 6 days. Thomson Holidays were fantastic and we haven't spent a penny over the extra 6 days. They covered the cost of everything. We then got back to pick up the car and Airparks at Gatwick did the same so no cost there either. I think we were very lucky when you hear some of the stories from others.

Currently stuck in Egypt but the tour operator has just told us all to sit tight. We are enjoying our extended trip lounging on the beach with a bit of snorkeling. We are on all inclusive so not costing us anything.

Went with Keycamp to a site in the Dordogne. Kids had a great time with all the others running around, and me and the missus sat in the sunshine and relaxed. If you have kids they are great places to go as they should make lots of new friends very quickly.

For you to figure out! ;-)

And the app seems to work pretty well. Posting this from an iPod

No need to pay if you just want to read posts. You only need to pay to post/pm. Alternatively there are routes to get the paid app for free

The Edimax reviews are pretty good - its got gigabit ethernet so will give decent speed when cabled (if you use the right cable). The Edimax is also Draft N - Currrys just don't show that part. I think pretty much every router on sale will be draft N unless it was released after Oct 2009. Thats when the draft became approved and 802.11n was official. Draft N has been used since 2007. I dont think there were any amendments to the draft so you should get exactly the same spec. I have found Buffalo routers to be the best and most flexible, but everyone has a preference. Linksys are also very good for people who want to play around with the inner workings as, just like the Buffalos, you can tweak the firmware very easily. Steer clear of the Netgear range of 802.11n cable routers - they are shockingly unstable.

ADSL or Cable router?

Its not the first choice I would make to buy stuff - thats always online. But if you need something quickly then I bet they will have a better selection than Currys/PC World

According to reports today its not due to open until June - http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/News/450393/best_buy_sets_uk_launch_date.html

Interesting to see that Hedge End has been chosen as one of the first sites for the US giant Best Buy. Should put some pressure on the Currys/Dixons/PC World group. They do a good price match in the USA so hopefully prices will come down a bit here.

Oh and Baj - you might even want to consider getting a flight with Easyjet down there and renting a car - saves 3/4 days journey down there and back and the cost of the flights would be about the same as the ferry if you do a crossing from Portsmouth. The Car hire would be covered by the cost of tolls/fuel and you get extra time to explore the area

Biot? Mougins old town is nice too - loads of restaurants to take the missus for a nice lunch.

It can be hit and miss weather wise on the west coast. I have been in the area just north of Bordeaux in the middle of summer and its been 18c and grey, another time 30c and brilliant sunshine. The south coast is more reliable, particularly the Var/Cote d' Azur.

Used to head down there a lot when my parents lived down there. Its a long old drive but the roads are usually very good, with the exception of the road around Lyon. When we have driven down with the kids we have stopped in or near Beaune in the Burgundy region. Lovely area if you like wine! Good place to stop on the way back and visit a vineyard or two to get some quality wine at prices you would pay for standard supermarket fare here (I can point you to a couple if required!) We have also stopped near Montelimar but if its just the 2 of you with no kids then a single stop should be enough. My sister and Dad have done the run from Calais to Cannes in a single day - but its tough to do. Most of my visits have been in and around Grasse, Cannes, Antibes, Juan les Pins, with trips up and down the coast. I love the area - Antibes is great - especially the food market. You can get some decently priced apartments on www.holiday-rentals.co.uk or there are plenty of campsites around. If you head down the coast to St Raphael area, and on to St Tropez there are lots of the big campsites (2000 pitches or more). If you like a leisurely drive then you can take the road from Lyon towards Grenoble, then through Gap and the Gorge Du Verdon - the French Grand Canyon. Once you are down to the coast you can leave the car behind if you wish and use the coastal train to head to Eze, Menton, Monaco, even up to San Remo in Italy. Its pretty cheap and the views are spectacular. This is a link to Google Maps directions from Caen to Cannes following the Gorge Du Verdon Another good place to go if you want a day away from the crowds at the beach is Lac St Cassien - a man made lake with loads of places to set up for the day swimming in the lake, fishing, eating at the many small restaurants. I know of some great swimming places on the rivers in that area too - damn cold water as its coming from the mountains but clear as anything - very refreshing on a hot day.