The majority of PCs running Vista are mostly running on a 32-bit system. However, quite a few people are actually running on Vista 64-bit system, many gamers use it because it is quite a bit faster than 32-bit. I recently invested in a couple of brand-new PCs that had all the latest hardware installed, including the Vista 64-bit system. It wasn't until I got the PCs that I realized I was going to have a few problems running some software and a vital piece of hardware that I rely heavily on. I didn't have too much of a problem with the hardware, in fact the alternative is better than it ever was before. However for the life of me, I could not use Firefox 3.5 on Vista 64-bit system without having constant problems. I got so fed up in the end that I totally uninstalled it and reverted back to using Internet Explorer, Chrome and occasionally Safari. Chrome is okay for browsing but absolutely no good if you are creating websites. Internet Explorer, well what can I say about this horrible browser, I absolutely detest it, it is the biggest load of crap that has ever been developed, as far as I'm concerned, Bill Gates has made his billions out of producing absolute rubbish, but I won't get on my high horse about this because we'll be here all day. 

Okay, where were we? Oh yes, browsers. So I've been struggling with Chrome and Internet Explorer, quite often getting very frustrated. Anyway, a version of Firefox has been released that by all account works on 64-bit Apparently it is absolutely awesome, not my words, the words of people who have been using it. I have only been using it for the last few days so I don't want to jump the gun and start raving about because the way my luck runs, it will probably crash as soon as I start telling everyone how brilliant it is. I have however noticed that everything is running a damn site got faster than Google chrome which I consider to be extremely slow at times. It is also remembering all my passwords which is something I have missed when using Internet Explorer. Early indications for me are quite favorable, let's hope it stays like this.

I thought I would tell everyone about it and you can make your own mind up. Please do post back user results, as no doubt, this will help other people who have also been left frustrated after migrating to Vista 64-bit and then finding out their beloved Firefox doesn't work properly.

This browser is very much in its infancy and where as I can't confirm for sure, I believe that various elements are not supported. For instance, I was not able to view any YouTube videos even after trying to install the plug-ins. I think that this particular browser is probably only beneficial for those of us who have quite a bit to do with web development and maintenance, if you are just browsing the Internet then Google Chrome will do the job just fine

A couple of weeks ago I treated myself to a Colour Laser Printer. The last printer I bought and still have is a 3 in 1 HP, photo copier/scanner/printer. The printer perform really well and I would have no qualms in recommending one. However, ink for these type of printers is quite expensive. I think you are talking around £40 to replace all the ink cartridges. I can't tell you exactly how many pages you get off one cartridge but the ink will not last very long if you do a lot of printing. The other problem you have with inkjet printers is that if they are left for too long without printing, you sometimes find that the ink dries and it won't print properly. I had this problem with a cannon inkjet printer. Because the original cartridges are quite expensive, many people opt for compatible replacement cartridges. Basically, these just copies and not original cartridges made by printer manufacturer. They cost considerably less than the original cartridges, sometimes less than a quarter of the price, however, I have found that these are never as good as the original cartridges. In fact, I've had some that just don't work at all. Also, you may find that some printers have a function that stop you from using compatible cartridges. You may well find that you get a message telling you that you are not using compatible cartridges. Sometimes you just get the message and they will work, other times, you may find that they will not work at all. Although compatible would work on my Canon printer, I would get a message telling me that I wasn't using Canon original cartridges. I did find that compatible cartridges were nowhere near as good as the original Canon cartridges.

So I have now got a Samsung CLP-315 Colour Laser Printer and I am really happy with it. I wouldn't say it was a cheap option at all, in fact, the ink for a laser printer is very expensive indeed, twice as much as an inkjet printer. However, you get a lot more for your money, the laserprinter I have just purchased will print something like 1500 pages in black,and 1000 pages in color. The quality is also extremely good. I bought mine from Staples in Torquay Devon for a little over £100. A full set of ink media costs more than the printer which does seem a little ridiculous but it should last me for at least two years considering how much I print

I recently launched a new website that is purely aimed at providing free advertising for businesses and residents of Torbay Devon. Everything on the Internet seems to be going down the commercial route these days, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and it's getting to the stage where nothing is free. I don't believe in the old cliche "there is no such thing as a free dinner" I think somethings should be free, and that includes advertising for local businesses. Christ, the Internet is taking over and high Street businesses are suffering because of it, Amazon and eBay don't give two hoots about Joe Bloggs who is trying to run a small shop in the high Street, all they want to do is put everyone out of business so they can line their pockets with even more millions. This is the reason why I have recently started www.torbayads4free.co.uk. I want to give local businesses the opportunity to advertise themselves completely free. No strings attached, they are able to place a small advert in my business listings. This is only open to Torbay businesses, that is Paignton Torquay and Brixham. Support our local businesses or they will all go out of business.

There is also a free classified ads section on the website. Residents to Torbay are able to advertise various items that they wish to sell.

Torbayads4free.co.uk

A mate of mine who also happens to be a tetraplegic has recently created a website selling electric leg bag emptiers. I myself have been using one of these devices for the best part of 25 years. The independence it has brought me is really beyond description. Basically, it's giving me the chance to live a reasonably independent life without having to have carers visited me several times a day to empty my leg bag. If you are in the position where you are not able to open your bag yourself then one of these devices could well be your savior. Check his website out.

 http://www.legbagemptier.co.uk/

Thought this was quite funny

I recently bought a really fantastic television wall bracket that I first saw at the spinal unit in Salisbury. These brackets are totally adjustable which means no matter how you are lying in bed, you can watch television without ending up with a crick in your neck. 

They are available from a company called IAG technology. Unfortunately they are not exactly cheap, around about £400 once you have paid for shipping and VAT. But if you are like me and occasionally have to stay in bed for periods of time than this piece of kit is absolutely invaluable. I also have my computer next to my bed and before had the television on the wall on the opposite side of the room. I can now angle my television so it sits next to my computer screen, using the PC and watching the television at the same time, the best of both worlds. 

I have included an image and also a link to the website where you can obtain one of these brackets. You will not find the bracket on the website, contact them and they will help you.

http://www.iagtechnology.co.uk/

It seems that the government is going  ahead with a so-called tax on residential network connections  to fund the next-generation optical fibre access.  I'm sure I speak for a lot of people when I say I am not happy about this at all.

Government plans to legislate on its controversial broadband tax before the next general election have sparked angry criticism.

Stephen Timms, the Treasury minister in charge of implementing the Digital Britain plan, announced he will introduce the law in the next finance bill.

The confirmation that a charge of 50p a month on all land lines will go ahead was branded "an old economy solution to a new economy problem" by the Conservatives.

Mr Timms said: "It is vital for jobs and growth that Britain has a world-class digital infrastructure.

"I am wholeheartedly committed to plans set out in the Digital Britain white paper for a levy to ensure that over 90% of the country has access to next generation broadband by 2017.

"It remains our aim to legislate in a Finance Bill during the forthcoming Parliamentary session."

Jeremy Hunt, shadow culture secretary, said: "Rather than taxing Britain's hard pressed families further, we should be seeking to stimulate investment in broadband through the regulatory structure.

"Slapping on a broadband tax is an old economy solution to a new economy problem. Labour has run out of ideas and the taxpayer is being forced to pay the price."

There had been reports in recent months that the Digital Britain report, which was unveiled in June, could be derailed amid growing opposition.

But a spokesman for Mr Timms said: "There were reports it had been kicked into touch but this is not the case. He made clear it was the intention to introduce legislation on a financial bill."

I thought it would be nice to mention a very courageous chap called Geoff Holt. Although we've never met personally, I have corresponded with him by e-mail. 

Geoff broke his neck in a very similar way to me 25 years ago. He was a very keen sailor before his accident and has continued to participate in this hobby even though he has a spinal cord injury and is confined to a wheelchair on a permanent basis. Geoff has achieved so much and was the first tetraplegic to sail single-handed around Britain. I for one don't know how he does it, I think he's absolutely fantastic and is such an inspiration to anyone who suffers from a disability. People often say I'm courageous, what I have achieved in my disabled life pales in comparison to what Geoff has managed to do. 

His next venture is quite unbelievable, he is going to attempt to be the first tetraplegic sailor to sail single-handed across the Atlantic. I believe he is taking a crew but I believe that he will be personally in charge of controlling his vessel. Anyway, enough of my waffle, please visit his website and give him the your support. This guy is an inspiration to both me and probably many other tetraplegics out there. I can guarantee you that you wouldn't find me out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, I'll stick to my little fishing ponds thank you.

Good luck Geoff, I know you can do it

http://www.geoffholt.com/

I don't know if anyone else has been having a problem with Google lately, but I have found that it seems to be getting slower by the day. Google searches take for ever at the moment, it sometimes takes a couple of minutes before the second page loads . Thank god its only Google, none of my websites are having any issues with speed so's something to be thankful about. However, I use Google on a regular basis and this is rather annoying. It's almost like being back in dial-up days.

I'm sure Google are aware of this since I've noticed it for the last week or so, They really need to pull their fingers out of their backside and get it sorted because anyone who is paying for their advertisements are not going to be happy because I suspect a lot of folks will be giving up on searches because who likes waiting a long time for pages to load these days?.

Please sign now to stop them from taking attendance allowance and disability benefits from the people who really need it

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/disability-living-allowance-(dla)/dla-aa-cuts

A government green paper has revealed plans to stop paying disability benefits and hand the cash over to social services instead. Join the Benefits and Work campaign to stop these cuts by typing your first name and email address in the boxes below.

The Shaping the Future of Care Green Paper published by the DWP and the Department of Health on 14th July sets out government plans to get rid of attendance allowance and, depending on public reaction, also leaves the way clear to end the care component of DLA.
The consultation period for the green paper ends on 13 November. If there has been no significant outcry against the plans by then, it seems very likely that whichever party is in power after the next election will seize this opportunity to cut public spending by over a billion pounds a year. Unfortunately, so far, that outcry has been very muted indeed, with only a few agencies – including RNIB and Age Concern and Help the Aged - speaking out. Shamefully, at least one major disability organisation, Disability Alliance, immediately announced its support for the green paper’s proposals.

This is in spite of the fact that a report in November 2009 by the Institute for Social and Economic Research warned that taking DLA and AA from claimants and making it part of a ‘personal budget’ administered by social services will leave millions of disabled people worse off and with less independence. The lack of protest is caused at least in part by ministers deliberately choosing ambiguous terms for their plans. The green paper refers only to cutting ‘disability benefits, for example Attendance Allowance’. Some organisations with predominantly younger members clearly believe that because DLA isn’t specifically named, that therefore it isn’t in the firing line.

But they are forgetting all the deception and weasel words that have surrounded the introduction of employment and support allowance. For example, ministers said that ESA would be paid at a higher rate than incapacity benefit. In fact, it turned out that cuts in related premiums mean that many people are very much worse off on ESA than they would have been on incapacity benefits. "