Forums

[WebBoard]

From: Mike .


Forum Addiction
From: Sim'
Date: 11 Feb 2001
Time: 18:08:50

I know this is slightly off topic, but I have noticed several posts going around at the moment from people suffering forum addiction.

Let me add my name to the list of afflicted ;-)

Anyway, perhaps I can suggest some slight remedy for those who have to pay for their own ISP bills (like me !).

If you find yourself spending significant amounts of time online, you may find it worthwhile getting yourself an all-you-can-eat service from your ISP.

I personally use Primus Internet ( http://www.iprimus.com.au ), which I have found to give quite fast and reliable service (and no, I am not affiliated with them). They have several "unlimited hours" plans, some with download limits (not usually a problem for forum addicts, though might cause problems if you are also an mp3 addict !).

The plan I use is the "infinity" plan which costs me $74.85 in advance for 3 months ($24.95 / month) unlimited access with unlimited downloads too. This plan is available only to selected customers in Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne & Perth and only by phone (can't sign up on the internet).

This all being said, make sure you are getting your monies worth... check your past usage history (if you can) and do the sums. If you would be better off with a time-only plan then don't fork out the extra for unlimited hours... save the difference towards your next IP !!!

Check your own ISP and see if they have an all-you-can-eat plan, or even a more cost effective plan to what you already have.

Another hint... if composing a long post... try doing it offline in Notepad, and the cut-and-paste into your browser when online to post it.

When doing cost calculations, don't forget to take into account the cost of phone calls... when your ISP access drops to less than $1 per hour, the cost of phone calls start to become significant. In this case one phone call (lets say you pay 20c per call) is worth 12 minutes of dialin time !

Hope this helps.

Sim'

 

[WebBoard]

Rolf

Reply: 1
From: Mike .


Re: Forum Addiction
From: Rolf
Date: 11 Feb 2001
Time: 23:36:24

Hi Sim

Addiction, to an online discusion - no you are kidding. Here it is 12.30 am writing letters to clients and I am perusing the forum.

TRY TPG 10 bucks unlimited hours

Ta, Rolf

 

[WebBoard]

Sim

Reply: 1.1
From: Mike .


Re: Forum Addiction
From: Sim'
Date: 12 Feb 2001
Time: 07:21:08

I heard bad things about TPG's reliability and consistency from a colleague a while ago, so I steered clear of them, even though they did seem to be pretty cheap.

Anyway, I can't comment on TPG's recent performance without any experience on the matter, so I hope they provide you a reasonable service for such a cheap price. Well done !

Considering that I spend so much time online (I primarily work from home), I needed something fast and reliable. When I can convince my boss to subsidise the cost of ADSL I will be in heaven !! It'll be so fast that I'll have my reply posted on the forum before you've written your question ;-)

For those of you who don't know... ADSL is similar to cable internet (always connected !), except that it uses your standard copper phone lines - you don't even need a second line - you can be surfing the net at fantastic speeds and talking on the phone - all on the same line !! Speeds are typically up to 1.5Mb per second (around 1500Kbps compared to 56kbps for dialup modems). The catch ? Around $130 per month for those speeds. Slightly slower and cheaper services are available - around $90 per month.

Look at http://www.bigpond.com/broadband/ for more info, but note that you don't have to go to Telstra for this service... other companies like Primus Internet are reselling at cheaper rates than Telstra, so shop around.

Now, who's going to start the offline support group for those who begin to show psychological and nutritional problems after getting ultra-high speed access to the internet (and the forum !) that is always connected with no limits ?

Sim'

 

[WebBoard]

Cathy

Reply: 1.1.1
From: Mike .


Re: Forum Addiction
From: Cathy
Date: 14 Feb 2001
Time: 22:47:25

I have used TPG for about 18 months and in a regional area. Apart from a few connection headaches in the early days their service has been excellent. And as Rolf says $10 a month unlimited and they don't seem to disconnect if it's not being used - can't beat that.

Best value for money in my area - they have heaps of POPs all over the place - worth checking out.

As for phone calls if you get a neighbourhood call at about 14 cents a call the dial up costs are fairly low - I dial up about 3 - 4 times a day and the bill is about $16 a month - I have a dedicated line for the 'net.

So all up about $26 a month.

Cathy

 

[WebBoard]

Mike

Reply: 1.1.1.1
From: Mike .


Re: Forum Addiction
From: Mike
Date: 13 Feb 2001
Time: 13:28:14

Hi Sim,

You said: "Now, who's going to start the offline support group for those who begin to show psychological and nutritional problems after getting ultra-high speed access to the internet (and the forum !) that is always connected with no limits ?"

Is this equivalent to giving a poker machine player more money to stay on those machines longer?

My problem is that this forum is too good! For a newbie like myself, there is so much to learn and so much good info on this forum that it's become somewhat addictive. I'm having trouble staying off the forum, even for one day. When I was on yesterday, I was thinking about replying to a couple of your recent posts but I resisted. Sorry about that.

I think what I need to do is save those posts I wish to reply to and create the reply offline. At least that will cut down the online time.

My other problem is that I'm using a dinosaur 486 DX66 with a slow 28.8K modem. Now you understand Why I'm concerned about the ISP bill.

Why don't I buy a faster system? Because sometime later this year, I'm heading over to London to work there for a few years. So what's the point of upgrading now? The only solution I can think of is to buy a laptop computer here and take it over with me. What do you think?

Regards, Mike

 

[WebBoard]

The Wife

Reply: 1.1.1.1.1
From: Mike .


Re: Forum Addiction
From: The Wife
Date: 13 Feb 2001
Time: 14:59:15

HELLO....have you ever heard of cafe la net?

They have super speed!!!, and they even BRING YOU COFFEEEE!!!!..wooohoooo

you can mix socialising with forum cruising at the same time, now THATS time management!

 

[WebBoard]

Sim

Reply: 1.1.1.1.1.1
From: Mike .


Re: Forum Addiction
From: Sim'
Date: 13 Feb 2001
Time: 17:10:43

Do the sums Mike... how much is your ISP costing you ? How much would a faster computer cost you ? Would you be better off "outsourcing" these facilities to an Internet Cafe (if possible) until you move overseas ?

Another good suggestion TW !

PS. Mike: Think very carefully before purchasing a laptop... could be a very large expense that you may not actually need ! You can get a similarly powerful desktop machine for a lot less money still. Except, if you are moving somewhere like London, a laptop may be wiser due to space limitations. I don't know what computer prices are like in the UK compared to AUS, but I could probably ask one of my many uni friends who are all on 2 year working holidays over there at the moment if you want !

Sim'

 

[WebBoard]

Mike

Reply: 1.1.1.1.1.1.1
From: Mike .


Thanks, Sim' & TW
From: Mike
Date: 13 Feb 2001
Time: 23:13:26

Hi Sim'

How good is TW? What can't she do?

I wouldn't mind knowing laptop prices in UK, if you can swing it. If I bought in Oz would there be compatibility problems with voltage or plug configs? I doubt it. Laptops run off battery. I think voltage is same. Peripheral plugs should be generic.

Laptop might enable me to pass those boring flight hours browsing the forum.

I like TW's idea of coffee and forum. Beats coffee and doghnuts, oops, doughnuts. In the meantime, instead of reading and replying online, I will open posts but not read. Then I will disconnect and read posts stored in Temporary File Folder. Anything I want to reply to I will save to a "Forum Reply" folder. Then cut and paste later online.

None of this will cure my addiction, but it won't cost me a fortune to maintain my habit, either.

Regards, Mike

 

[WebBoard]

Sim

Reply: 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
From: Mike .


Re: Thanks, Sim' & TW
From: Sim' - Mike
Date: 16 Feb 2001
Time: 07:37:00

I checked with some of my friends in the UK, and apparently when exchange rates are taken into account, computer prices in the UK are about the same as here in Aus.

Suggestions were Germany and the US for cheaper prices.

As for power... don't worry... pretty much any laptop these days comes with a universal power supply... any voltage, any frequency (if it says 100-240V and 50/60Hz then you can use it anywhere). At most you will have to buy a plug adaptor to make the Aus plug fit in the UK sockets (or vice versa)... $5 - $10 tops !

Even if the world can't standardize on power plugs, at least portable electronics manufacturers have seen the light and are supplying universal power systems with their products.

I've travelled to 5 different countries in the last 3 months (including US)... no problems with laptop, shaver, phone charger, video camera battery charger (other than having to buy the plug adaptors) !

Sim'

 

[WebBoard]

Judy

Reply: 1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
From: Mike .


Re: Thanks, Sim' & TW
From: judy
Date: 14 Feb 2001
Time: 11:21:39

Concerning isp's we have done the figures - at the moment we are with Primus; every time we are not using the computer for more than 20min we get cut off - so don't have a phone call during that time. we have worked out that the cost of the connection is $25 and then everytime we have to reconnect it costs us approx 25cents - which is about $1 per day - by 7 days (we are internet addicts) - therefore costs us over $50 per month - we are going onto cable - we are at the end of our tether.