Search found 1932 matches

by random37
12 Dec 2019, 1:51pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Are you looking for a free office suite ? Softmaker has one
Replies: 6
Views: 749

Re: Are you looking for a free office suite ?

mjr wrote:
random37 wrote:I use open source software when I can, but LibreOffice just doesn't work well enough and LaTex isn't practical in many work environments.

2010 called and wants its criticisms back. It's been a long time since I heard many complain that LibreOffice works any worse than MS Office for core tasks.

Bless you, but you're living in a dreamworld. LibreOffice is fine, until you get to what people actually want which is interoperability with MS Office. It fails miserably very often still on that metric. And the database component is still rubbish. I tried to make a database with Libreoffice Base last year. It broke after a couple of days.

Like it or not, Linux is not Windows. MS Office is what people expect, and LibreOffice should not portray itself as a drop in replacement because it isn't. Linux has its own way of doing stuff. Better, yes, but different. And by and large the community don't care. Why should they?
You keep on begging the software barons for changes if that's enough for you. I'll keep on getting things fixed myself.

That's OK if you're on your own time. Some of us have real work to do.
by random37
12 Dec 2019, 1:05pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BBC have stopped iplayer
Replies: 43
Views: 2084

Re: BBC have stopped iplayer

kwackers wrote:Who cares?

I care! I don't have anything to hide, but I've nothing to show them either. Besides, I paid for my devices. I don't expect them to extract more value from the transaction so they can send me advertising.
kwackers wrote:Might be worth pointing out that for all the noise most (if not all) attacks come via peoples computers.
When it comes to a competition to keep networks safe between device manufacturers and clueless users I know where I'd put my bet.

Security and privacy are not the same thing. Smart TVs might be secure. They aren't private. Do you really want to invite that into your house?
by random37
12 Dec 2019, 10:26am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BBC have stopped iplayer
Replies: 43
Views: 2084

Re: BBC have stopped iplayer

I went round to a friend's house the other day. Her mammoth TV was switched on, but just the menu.
It started randomly playing adverts. I thought that was the default behaviour on many of them.
by random37
11 Dec 2019, 10:48pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Are you looking for a free office suite ? Softmaker has one
Replies: 6
Views: 749

Re: Are you looking for a free office suite ?

It's good stuff. Highly recommended.
Get the free version, then wait till they do an offer where you get 75% off the paid version. It happens a couple of times a year.
I use open source software when I can, but LibreOffice just doesn't work well enough and LaTex isn't practical in many work environments. And they are a great little company, we need more of those. They've written patches for their suite based on things I've posted on their forum. Try getting Microsoft to do that!
by random37
11 Dec 2019, 10:37pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: BBC have stopped iplayer
Replies: 43
Views: 2084

Re: BBC have stopped iplayer

Smart TVs are dreadful and creepy. When our current TV dies, it won't be replaced by a smart TV; if none of the manufacturers produce a straightforward TV we'll have no tv. Who wants to buy a device only to find you get bombarded with adverts?
by random37
11 Dec 2019, 10:31pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Road Legal Mid drive kit
Replies: 23
Views: 2213

Re: Road Legal Mid drive kit

As a casual cyclist, I don't want to share facilities with a vehicle that could reach 45km/h, powered or unpowered. But then, a vehicle of that turn of speed can't mix it up with cars. I would feel much safer on a 650cc moped than a 50cc one going up hills.

I think fossil fuel cars will become really expensive over the next couple of years. And electric cars will always be expensive. The cost of producing electric bikes should be really, really low compared to the price of an electric car. It's going to come, for me it can't come quickly enough. I'd drop my car in a heartbeat if I could.
by random37
11 Dec 2019, 7:14pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Has Bikefix closed down?
Replies: 6
Views: 1038

Has Bikefix closed down?

I need something, but their website seems to have ceased to be.

Have they shut?
by random37
29 Jun 2019, 4:11pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Wheels for big guys
Replies: 50
Views: 2694

Re: Wheels for big guys

simonhill wrote:......................Aren't we able to give simple clear advice that stands on its own and doesn't need to be argued in never ending posts.

I've noticed that whenever someone asks about anything to do with cycling on here and mentions they're overweight, some people always start lecturing them about diet and that they can't ride a bike until they've been checked over by a doctor.
We are not these people's doctors, and we shouldn't be telling them not to do something that will almost certainly have a positive impact on them.
bigjim wrote:Redundant for him. Would you want to drag round heavy wheels for no reason? I remove the heavy touring wheels off my tourers as I don't need them for local or club rides. The bikes are much nicer with lighter more responsive wheels in situ, if I'm unloaded.

I don't think this will be an issue for a 180kg rider for a long time. Perhaps when he has lost 70kg he might want a new bike. And that's fine! He'll probably want new trousers too. Would we tell someone who is losing weight that if they do they'll have to keep their old clothes?
by random37
28 Jun 2019, 1:34pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Wheels for big guys
Replies: 50
Views: 2694

Re: Wheels for big guys

Congratulations for starting!
The Rigida Andra 40 rim is rated for your weight. Add to that a good quality Shimano freehub, a good wheel build and you'll be golden. Expect the whole thing to cost £100-130ish.
Or the wheel in that SJS cycles link above.
by random37
26 Jun 2019, 9:29am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rudge 'Bi-Frame' -a 'Proper' Folding Bike....?
Replies: 196
Views: 32906

Re: Rudge 'Bi-Frame' -a 'Proper' Folding Bike....?

My assumption is almost anything would be better than the cheap tat available in cup and cone land these days.
Expect a new post when the need arises.
by random37
26 Jun 2019, 8:23am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rudge 'Bi-Frame' -a 'Proper' Folding Bike....?
Replies: 196
Views: 32906

Re: Rudge 'Bi-Frame' -a 'Proper' Folding Bike....?

My understanding is the Euro BB is the same size as an MTB bottom bracket (actually, there are two different shell widths). There are larger sizes (Mid and Spanish), which would require a different size frame.
A BMX crank is what I'd use. You can get square spindles, but the crank it has now could be useful somewhere else.
What appeals is the ease of adjusting chainline with spacers. As the next iteration of mine will either be 3- or single- speed, it is quite appealing. My understanding is it might be hard to replicate the chainline of an MTB singlespeed hub with many standard BMX cranks, but I won't be running particularly fat tyres so clearance isn't an issue. Probably just an el cheapo freewheel hub built without dish. I need to have a look what's in my parts bin.
Watch this space!
by random37
25 Jun 2019, 10:43am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rudge 'Bi-Frame' -a 'Proper' Folding Bike....?
Replies: 196
Views: 32906

Re: Rudge 'Bi-Frame' -a 'Proper' Folding Bike....?

Regarding bottom brackets on these and singlespeed conversions.
Mine is still on the original bottom bracket, which I suspect won't be good enough for another rebuild. There is the problem with the seat tube intruding into the shell.
The quality of cup & cone bottom brackets is pretty poor these days. So come rebuild time, I am considering using a Euro BB from a BMX like this:
http://www.alansbmx.com/1654373/product ... indle.aspx
Probably heavier than an MTB one. But who cares?
Has anyone fitted anything like this? It looks like it would fit, but I know very little about BMX. As far as I know, Euro BBs are the same thread/diameter/width as conventional BBs on modern bikes.
by random37
24 Jun 2019, 4:28pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bicycle Brinkmanship....?
Replies: 27
Views: 1614

Re: Bicycle Brinkmanship....?

Yes. He was quite well known for it. Was mostly around Oxford way.
by random37
24 Jun 2019, 4:24pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Well I never...the hipsters steed!
Replies: 54
Views: 2507

Re: Well I never...the hipsters steed!

I suspect tyres and position of contact points are more important.
Still, I don't like it. It looks cheap.
by random37
24 Jun 2019, 4:21pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Sheffield magazine under fire after call to 'razor wire' cyclists
Replies: 19
Views: 5488

Re: Sheffield magazine under fire after call to 'razor wire' cyclists

mattheus wrote:There is a natural desire amongst a noisy minority of humanity to put down "out groups" (I think this is the current sociological term).

insults on grounds of race, sexuality etc are now illegal, so these pathetic people have had to move down to the next target on the list. Personally I think it should still fall under hate crime.

And let's not forget some cyclists are every bit as bad. It is all about power, and a lack of self-confidence.