Battery mice work just as well & aren’t expensive. Or, I think I’ve seen an extension cable - one USB plug with a box of 4 USB slots at the other end: you could tuck all the wires round to the back. But I’m no expert.
Still on Windows 7 because it does all I need. Once shops open again up here, I’ll look for a W10 laptop but I use Chrome, so thanks everyone for the warning about W10S.
I still have desktops Bob, although not as much as I used to. I wanted a laptop really, but I didn't want to spend a lot as it was only really for experimentation. I have a small bedroom converted into an office. It's not used that much now, but in there there are two tower systems and two printers, connected in a network. The router is also in there and the towers are direct connected so they are super fast on broadband. My wife and I both use laptops downstairs mainly though. One of the desktops is connected to a really good set of speakers if I want to listen to music up there. Its also got a nice big screen.
My "new" tower did arrive, and I have now put Zorin operating system on it. It looks good so far, but I'll play around with it a while before I come to any decision about converting the other computers to it. From what I have seen so far I certainly prefer it to Windows 10.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 10/6/2020
Battery mice work just as well & aren’t expensive. Or, I think I’ve seen an extension cable - one USB plug with a box of 4 USB slots at the other end: you could tuck all the wires round to the back. But I’m no expert.
Still on Windows 7 because it does all I need. Once shops open again up here, I’ll look for a W10 laptop but I use Chrome, so thanks everyone for the warning about W10S.
You probably have seen an extension cable like that Fiona, I have one. I don't tend to use it much these days though. I bought it some years ago when I had an old computer that only had a couple of USB slots, and I wanted to plug in more than that. The computers I have now have far more USB slots, so I don't really need it. Stick with Windows 7, it's much better.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 10/6/2020
Battery mice work just as well & aren’t expensive. Or, I think I’ve seen an extension cable - one USB plug with a box of 4 USB slots at the other end: you could tuck all the wires round to the back. But I’m no expert.
Still on Windows 7 because it does all I need. Once shops open again up here, I’ll look for a W10 laptop but I use Chrome, so thanks everyone for the warning about W10S.
Thank you...that is a very good idea to use a USB splitter. I will have to get one because my printer plugs into a USB socket as well as my mouse (I prefer a wired one as they are more responsive and don't eat batteries). The problem is that my computer desk is a very small table so not a lot of room for the mouse at the side of the laptop and wires sticking in the USB sockets will get in the way.
I also use ethernet cables Colin as my router is in the living room and my computer room is at the back of the bungalow with poor wifi reception. I use powerline adapters which utilise the house wiring.
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 10/6/2020
I also use ethernet cables Colin as my router is in the living room and my computer room is at the back of the bungalow with poor wifi reception. I use powerline adapters which utilise the house wiring.
I have two computers and a printer connected to my router by cables, all in the office upstairs. Our laptops downstairs connect by WiFi. All works reasonably well, considering most of the stuff is quite old now. I'm on my laptop now, but I have been playing around with the "new" computer upstairs with Zorin operating system instead of Windows. Still a few things I have to figure out. I can't at the moment get my laptop to "see" the Zorin computer upstairs on the network.
I've heard of those Powerline adapters, but never used one. Are they any good?
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 10/6/2020
I also use ethernet cables Colin as my router is in the living room and my computer room is at the back of the bungalow with poor wifi reception. I use powerline adapters which utilise the house wiring.
I have two computers and a printer connected to my router by cables, all in the office upstairs. Our laptops downstairs connect by WiFi. All works reasonably well, considering most of the stuff is quite old now. I'm on my laptop now, but I have been playing around with the "new" computer upstairs with Zorin operating system instead of Windows. Still a few things I have to figure out. I can't at the moment get my laptop to "see" the Zorin computer upstairs on the network.
I've heard of those Powerline adapters, but never used one. Are they any good?
Colin, you may need to install SAMBA from the App Center on your Zorin computer.
------------- Never argue with fools........They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 10/6/2020
I've heard of those Powerline adapters, but never used one. Are they any good?
I had lots of problems with wifi when I first moved and since it is only a small bungalow I couldn't understand why the wifi was so weak when not in the same room as the router. I think an emergency alarm system in the hallway might have something to do with it. The provider was less than helpful so I bought a pair of powerline adapters and they solved the problem completely...real fast internet and no drop outs.
You plug one into a wall socket near your router and run an ethernet cable from it, to the router. Then you plug the other one into a wall socket near your computer and run an ethernet cable from it, to the computer.
The signal passes through your house wiring from one socket to the other. I gather you have to make sure that the two wall sockets are on the same ring main which is usually the case unless you live in a mansion.
Can anyone recommend a set of laptop speakers that have a fantastic bass sound without a woofer, as the speakers on my new laptop are pathetic? I would prefer ones that plug into the mains rather than a USB socket and then have one plug into the earphone socket of the laptop.
I have some Creative Inspire T10 speakers attached to my TV which are excellent but I bought them some years ago for £30 and they are now selling on eBay for £50 - £60 odd.
I can get some directly from the Creative company in the Netherlands for £34.99 I think and free postage but don't know if I might have to pay import duty or VAT on them.
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 10/6/2020
I also use ethernet cables Colin as my router is in the living room and my computer room is at the back of the bungalow with poor wifi reception. I use powerline adapters which utilise the house wiring.
I have two computers and a printer connected to my router by cables, all in the office upstairs. Our laptops downstairs connect by WiFi. All works reasonably well, considering most of the stuff is quite old now. I'm on my laptop now, but I have been playing around with the "new" computer upstairs with Zorin operating system instead of Windows. Still a few things I have to figure out. I can't at the moment get my laptop to "see" the Zorin computer upstairs on the network.
I've heard of those Powerline adapters, but never used one. Are they any good?
Colin, you may need to install SAMBA from the App Center on your Zorin computer.
Thanks for the tip Ernie, I'll have to give that a try.
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 10/6/2020
I've heard of those Powerline adapters, but never used one. Are they any good?
I had lots of problems with wifi when I first moved and since it is only a small bungalow I couldn't understand why the wifi was so weak when not in the same room as the router. I think an emergency alarm system in the hallway might have something to do with it. The provider was less than helpful so I bought a pair of powerline adapters and they solved the problem completely...real fast internet and no drop outs.
You plug one into a wall socket near your router and run an ethernet cable from it, to the router. Then you plug the other one into a wall socket near your computer and run an ethernet cable from it, to the computer.
The signal passes through your house wiring from one socket to the other. I gather you have to make sure that the two wall sockets are on the same ring main which is usually the case unless you live in a mansion.
That wouldn't work for me then Bob, as my router is upstairs. Most 2 storey houses have an upstairs ring main and a downstairs one which is separate. Mind you, I don't really need it with the router I have now whereas I could have done with it with the last one.
I would recommend the speakers I use upstairs as they are exactly the type you are looking for, but when I went to get another pair a year or so ago, they were no longer available. Just like me they are getting on a bit, but they are great speakers.
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 10/6/2020
Can anyone recommend a set of laptop speakers that have a fantastic bass sound without a woofer, as the speakers on my new laptop are pathetic? I would prefer ones that plug into the mains rather than a USB socket and then have one plug into the earphone socket of the laptop.
I have some Creative Inspire T10 speakers attached to my TV which are excellent but I bought them some years ago for £30 and they are now selling on eBay for £50 - £60 odd.
I can get some directly from the Creative company in the Netherlands for £34.99 I think and free postage but don't know if I might have to pay import duty or VAT on them.
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 10/6/2020
Can anyone recommend a set of laptop speakers that have a fantastic bass sound without a woofer, as the speakers on my new laptop are pathetic? I would prefer ones that plug into the mains rather than a USB socket and then have one plug into the earphone socket of the laptop.
I have some Creative Inspire T10 speakers attached to my TV which are excellent but I bought them some years ago for £30 and they are now selling on eBay for £50 - £60 odd.
I can get some directly from the Creative company in the Netherlands for £34.99 I think and free postage but don't know if I might have to pay import duty or VAT on them.
Thank you for that. I had seen those actually but unfortunately I am not an Amazon member and have no wish to be having cancelled my account with them a couple of years ago due to continual problems with receiving items not as described, damaged goods, or no goods at all. However, I have found the updated version in Argos which are bluetooth. A bit expensive at £49.99 plus postage but they can be delivered tomorrow so I will buy those.
Well, the new speakers arrived and work a treat. A bit too much bass to begin with but I think I have solved that now...my laptop seemed to have bass boost enabled. Only one minor problem which I think is caused by bluetooth...there is a very slight delay in the sound so when watching the news for instance, speakers lips aren't synchronised, but I can put up with that because it's mainly Utube music I listen to.