Gio

No mate, I haven't been there. And don't wish it on anyone. When the Prez of the USA gives his justification as "It's like a bad old movie - and I don't wanna watch it", my blood chills at the thought of tens of thousands of our fellow Brits being sent into harm's way by a bunch of politicos. Saddam is clearly a shit and should ****off. IMHO, Afghanistan is justifiable. Going to war over Poland (WW2) and Belgium (WW1) was - again in just in my mind - necessary. The last Gulf War resulted in the liberation of Kuwait from an aggressor. But 2 points - I can't remember the last justifiable war which we started and the politicos of both sides will stay home while getting their citizens killed. So I thought it was interesting to look back at what British heroes and patriots have said before. Yours hoping noone gets killed - Gio

Gosh, war can be such fun, can't it? Let's listen to someone who has been there: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/8103/Sassoon1.html Both the above were from a serving British Officer. As was the following statement:

...don't talk to me about life. (sorry - had to be the first to get that one in :D )

And in addition to the above, Motor Trend in the US said (when launched) Still true today. It was Nissan's engineering flagship to show off that they could build not just sports cars but also world-class supercars. And it also makes me go "oooohh" but probably in not quite such a girly way. ;) Gio

hahahaha :D Gio

Is that a Transmission Carrier Pigeon or an Internet Pigeon? lol - Gio

The quality of the phone line definitely affects the modem speed. More info here http://www.zdnet.co.uk/misc/band-test/quest5.html If you have a known good set-up which suddenly halves in speed when you move from one line to the other, you may have a DACS on the new line. (Well, BT would have put it there at the exchange.) Good luck - Gio

nonono BigRoy - you're not any more sick than usual ;) But the one I deleted wasn't very nice so you can't see it/them any more. Tesco and the Bee Gees are fair targets but the other one wasn't and the anti-comments were quite right IMHO. My fault - sorry.

hehehe And jeezus wasn't getting the cassette playing just right a PITA? Quite apart from the bloody RAM pack. Still - the good old days of getting a WP and documents in less than 16k!!! The major problem with MS is that ...... naah - that's too serious for this time of night :) Time for some red wine I think - while I hit some more html with a blunt instrument! Cheers all - Gio

Mike, I'm not disagreeing with you - whether I like it or not, Windows is running on 90% of the typical domestic PCs. But there was a time before Microsoft achieved its dominance - and there were millions of personal computers in millions of homes across the world before DOS. ZX-80, ZX81, Spectrum, Amstrad PCW, Apple and many others I am sure. I think my point was that it wasn't MS who brought it to millions - it was many others. Now, of course, millions have to have MS whether they like it or not. Oh and one last point - the PCW (while conceived and sold as a dedicated WP) actually came with a copy of CP/M and Logo so was not only a dedicated WP but also could be used as a "proper" computer. I wrote my first database using dbIV (I think - something from Ashton-Tate anyway) running under CP/M on a PCW. So buy a WP and get a free PC! All for £299.99 Cheers - Gio

You're absolutely right - keep it clean and mean and it does get quicker to boot. But it's my work machine. 1GHz Athlon, shedloads of RAM etc etc - so a good 6-month old spec. For all this to be slower at starting up (and no discernable working difference on Word, Excel etc) than the dx2/66 (66? 66MHz ffs!) I had all those years ago means someone has conned me into throwing loads of money away buying ever more powerful machines which bring me no discernable benefit to work tasks. And they're noisier as well! (Now - where did I put me old Speccy?)

Errrh, anyone heard of CP/M? As available on zillions of PCWs for £299 way before Mr IBM introduced the PC. Now for sure, Mr Gates and his spawn have crushed all the opposition - effectively - but why does it take me longer today to sit down, fire the computer up and start to write a document than it did on my trusty old PCW in 1980 whenever it was? Everytime I install a new Windows (and I started at 3.0) the install procedure takes longer and is more complicated? And then the PC takes longer to start? Bloody Microsoft...... And, while I come to think of it, it wasn't Microsoft who brought computing to the masses, it was the manufacturers who competed so fiercely that prices fell and PCs became more affordable. Microsoft had screwed the manufacturers into deals so that it effectively became the only OS offered. Oh - and what about Sinclair? And Apple? And..... I'll stop now as I am starting to froth at the mouth which is a problem you youngsters will also get when you get to my advanced years. *cough* *dribble* chews on dentures and falls off chair ;) Gio

OK, trying to make up for previous tastelessness, I offer the following true customer complaint log as received by my mate who used to work the engineer's desk at BT. I still have the original printout. The following was entered onto BT's call system at 08:53 on 19/01/95 -------------------------------------------------------- cust has 'radioactive teeth + people can hear her talking'. cust works for the fbi + if line isn't fixed today - there will be trouble. line was cut off by engineer - she has now killed hi, + he's now 'green'. people are tapping into custs front room socket, but normally not the kitchen socket, but in any case the line is completely dead. if we don't get engineer there today - cust will report to fbi who now work for local government. cust also wants us to remove a socket --------------------------------------------------------- WTF? :D :D :D You can tell it's Friday, can't you? Cheers - Gio

Now there's interesting - I would usually believe everything Mike and Henri say. But here we have a discrepancy. I've e-mailed Mike and will let you know. Also, I checked in the Enthusiast's Companion and it agrees with you and Henri "US market turbo is only two-seater". I told you I was only a trainee! Cheers - a tarnished trainee pedant - Gio

According to Mike Feeney's microfiche, 5 variants were available in US. For NA RZ24 (2+0) and RZ26 (2+2) and RZ27 (convertible). For TT CZ24 (2+0) and CZ26 (2+2) More info here but a little confusing http://www.300zx.org.uk/mod_comp_1.htm Yours a trainee pedant - Gio

Sorry mate - calming down.... You're quite right. (oh - and nothing you said could have given any offence to anyone. ;) ) The QEB quotient I meant to apply to the external sites. I did read it - and also the ZX-1 site and also did a bit of googling. It has been a couple of decades since I was a physicist. Much of the intervening time has been spent in marketing for automotive and consumer electronics so I get over sensitive about what I perceive as some monkey in a suit trying to bullsh*t customers. It's both easy and immoral. The BG and ZX1 sites set my alarm bells ringing for just these reasons. That's why I look for RAC or SAE or other independent organisation to confirm. Same reason I automatically distrust anything which starts with "everyone knows..." or "my dad's mate's brother..." or - well you get the picture. Still, as everyone knows, the 300ZX is the world's best car ;) Cheers and sorry for any offence. Fancy a pint? - Gio

Non-expert opinion - IIRC, you should have a two IDE channels and can have a master and slave on each one. So you should be able to have up to 4 devices (HDD / CD). So keep your new large HDD as master boot and you've still got 3 spare IDE "places" to put your other HDD and also your CD and even a CD writer. I've done this before with no probs - just needs a good local PC guru / shop to take the flack when it goes wrong! Or - bite the bullet and start to copy everything you want from the old small one to the new big one - just leave it going over night and fingers crossed! Cheers - Gio

Andy, mate, tanstaafl What is an "API Sequence IIIF Engine Test"? Who sets the standard? Do I know what it means? (nope) If you start to see a piece of marketing (advert, brochure, website) which uses a lot of TLAs and exclamation marks! and non-attributable quasi-engineering bollocks (sorry - should have said NAQEB), put your cynicism into high gear. I don't work for the petroleum industry and question their motives most of the time. But there has beem so much complete a*se talked about the engine that ran on water, the everlasting light bulb and so on it's just a shame that people still get conned. If it hasn't been tested by the SAE or BSI or RAC or AA or SMMT or any other reputable recognised body, then it's probably bollocks. If there is something which promises the earth for being better oil or better petrol and isn't already on the market from the companies which are putting billions into R&D just to get a minor competitive edge over the competition - then it's probably bollocks. Do I believe a small company can out R&D (say) Shell? Nope. I'd be happy to stand corrected - but need to see evidence from an expert, independent body. Oh god - an £0.02-worth has gone on far too long. Sorry - Gio

Received from my civil-servant mate. -------------------------------------------------------------- The remaining two bee Gees are moving to Cornwall because its the only place they'll see Morris dancing. -------------------------------------------------------------- TERRORISM SCARE AT TESCO. Tesco have been forced to remove all Chinese readymeals from their shelves over fears the may have ricin. -------------------------------------------------------------- (sobered up and didn't like the first one after all...)

Wonderful, wonderful stuff. Hahahahahaha Still can't decide my fave but given I am an old hippy it has to be this one http://www.rathergood.com/vikings/ Still laughing - Gio

Amazon chicks with a bush telegraph? Now there's a thort.... :D But surely you wouldn't need to pilot your palm?

though you meant one of these :D http://alphabet.co.kr/ http://www.catalase.com/puzzle.htm http://www.rhapsodyinblack.com/house_artwork/alphabet_street.html http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/9860/street.html ;) - Gio

This is the article which keeps getting reported when people talk about additives including Slick50 http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/snakeoil.htm Bear in mind that it is now 11 years out of date. But, IMHO, what everyone has said above is right. If there was a magic bunch of additives, Shell would bung it in their oil. They've done it with Optimax, after all! Remember - tanstaafl - and if anyone tries to convince you there is, they're probably flogging you snake oil. Cheers - Gio

These guys will probably know http://www.prince.org/ I think the only thing sadder than the fact I looked this up is that I found I am exactly one day older than the little chap but also several million dollars poorer. Humph. ;) Gio

Relatively speaking they're not that expensive. If you compare parts / servicing with other cars which cost £34,000 ten years ago - or have the supercar performance, they're relatively cheap. And if you look after them, reliable (Japanese, after all) Cheers - Gio