Coop Card Reader

So many gadgets are there to make our lives easier - but this definitely isn't one of them! My new card reader arrived from the Coop a couple of weeks ago. I am usually very happy with them as a bank, mainly because they have so many access routes, but also because they have never given me any hassle, and have even been known to phone me up when I could be saving money or getting better interest. Yes, they are a rare beast amongst the usual banks.

So why o why have they given out the most awkward system for card checking? The screen is dreadful - contrast is awful, figures are tiny, and it isn't backlit so you have to wave it round till you find good lighting! I had to go through the rigmarole of all this several times as I kept reading the numbers wrong, simply to transfer money from my current account to my gold card, so not even an insecure transaction!!!

Plus isn't giving away card scanners a good way for forgers to get hold of them? I have two in my house already as my husband also uses the coop and smile - he is expecting one from Smile any day. - Prices on a postcard.....

Sunning it

Its been so hot lately, that work seems to have suffered for everyone. Those air con units are so bad at work when they overheat, especially if like me you have sealed windows in your office. So the only answer is to hide at home, and then enjoy the evening sun. However, thats not so easy if you cant ever get comfy, so this year I went for a waterproof beanbag. And if its possible to say this of an inanimate, non gadget-like, item - I'm in lurve :)

Its very pink, but they had sold out of purple, so whats a girl to do? The best thing though, is actually being able to find comfort, lying on my front in the sun. I like to lie on my front to get the warm rays on my back to ease my aches and pains, and have never been as comfy in this position except on my tempur mattress! I can just fall down and be supported whilst reading or listening to my ipod and just relax for what seems like forever. I highly recommend it. As long as you have someone to help you back up out of it in case you seize up and undo all your good sun bathing...

Oh and try not to let the dog lie on top of you either, as that REALLY hurts ;)

Mobile Blogging

Thought it was time to blog prone rather than sat up. I went to my iPod touch apps store and carefully read the reviews, downloaded blogwriter, set it up and watched it bomb :(

Not to be deterred, although sulking that I bought the full version of the above, I then bought another software blogpress and so far so good. I don't like the tiny times roman font so shall have to try to improve that, but now to see if it posts....

-- Posted From My iPod Touch

A cute laptop trolley bag

It may not look it from the photo, but this is actually a very nice looking laptop bag. After giving up taking even my UMPC into work as it weighed too much I started to look for a trolley bag, but the UK offerings were either hideous, manly or way too expensive! I waited until l I got to the airport and found the cutest one I have seen, for about £100. Admittedly this isn't cheap, but no back pain and style at the same time aren't easy to find, so I thought I would show it to you anyway. I have linked the pic to the only place I could find it, their site being down, lets hope this sort of thing starts to reach our own shores very soon.

Windows 7 - my god it works!

After trying every system going on my Samsung Q1, I have now got the beta of windows 7 on there, and by jove I can finally use it for what was intended. My handwriting to text is in time with my strokes, the videos play without juddering, and even start up is relatively quick and painless.

I just wonder what lies under the lid of my current feeling of glee, and fear if the OS is fine, the price wont be!

Ho Hum....

Airports!

Just back from a trip to Amsterdam, leaving from Bristol so thought would do a quick comparison on the two airports.

Wi-fi - Quick and easy to log into a pay per minute system at Amsterdam, but at Bristol you had to go to a corner with PC's where there seemed to be a seat in front of every one. A1, B0

Wheelchair availability - Both you have to go in a way, but despite a couple of hitches both got a chair in good time, but at Amsterdam you couldn't get it till you had checked in, so don't try if you haven't got electronic booking from your provider or you wont get any shopping time. A0 B1

Lift to planes - Bristol won hands down for taking my husband and my friend, Amsterdam expects you to go it alone. A0 B1

Food - a bit unfair as Bristol is so much smaller, but still a goof offering, so one all this time.

Toilets - both were clean and easy to find, so again a draw on this one.

Passport Control - Bristol have managed to put a barrier in the way of the disabled access so you get pushed into the queue a get tutted loads, amsterdam fast tracks you via the crew lines - A1, B0

All in all therefore its a draw on the main points for me, but you have been warned!

Reading on an ipod touch

The ipod touch, is still the best toy around as far as my peer group sees it - small, pretty, and an awesome interface. But what I find it most useful for is reading ebooks at night. The screen is lovely to read on, with a good range of text sizes on ereader and stanza, the two most popular apps on the itunes site. But the fact that it is so light and backlit are the main plusses for me - I can read happily through a sleepless night without disturbing my hubby, or even listen to an audio book if my shoulders are really painful. Having said that, most mobile phones do the same thing, so its worth looking around to see what might be the best one for your pocket.