Small business helped Net-Cymru's webmaster get online
I don't believe in buying new computers all the time, but the software
I needed to get online required 8MB of memory and my computer had only
4MB.
When I went to a computer superstore near where I was living in London I
was told that they had two speeds of RAM. The amount I needed would be
about £35, without possibility of return if it turned out to be
the wrong speed. Fitting would be about the same again, and VAT on the
lot.
I brought the computer to Wales and contacted a small computer supplier.
I was told to bring in the computer and was told that 4MB could be salvaged
from another machine. When I brought in the computer a young man opened the
top in my presence. The RAM socket was located awkwardly under a heat shield,
and without a great deal of work, could be only partly dislodged. Like
the surgeon's assistant I held up the heatshield while the young man reached
underneath and put the chip in its socket.
We powered up. The system recognised the whole 8MB of memory. My problem
was solved. The bill was £10 for the chip and £10 for fitting.
In London my hardware shop was a warehouse with very few staff and everything
packaged in plastic. I could only guess at the size of screws I would need
and if they didn't fit I couldn't return an opened pack. Even if they did
fit, I would usually end up with a lot left over.
In Wales the manager of my local hardware shop is very helpful. I get
friendly advice and I am sold what I need, no more. He really helped with
a special request. I needed some ballast and lead seemed the most
appropriate.
It wasn't the sort of thing he stocked, but his mother-in-law's house had
been reroofed and there was some lead left over. He said he would bring it
into the shop next week.
I went back to the shop and picked up the lead. What did he want for this
valuable service? Not a penny !
I was wearing a digital watch with a plastic strap. In the summer of '98
I was travelling abroad (Italy and France) and (probably as a result of the
heat and sweat) the band broke. I taped it up and with a bit of care managed
to get it back to Wales.
Although there were pins holding the strap, they were very inaccessible.
Clearly the watch was designed to be thrown away when the strap went.
In Pontypridd market a stall holder sold me a leather strap and skillfully
replaced the broken plastic strap. I have worn the watch for about two
years now. It hasn't given the slightest bit of trouble.
The cost for the strap including fitting was about £2.50.
Eddy Hunt
This Website contains information from a variety of sources. References on
this site to individuals and organisations does not imply a support on their
part for Net-Cymru - see
Site Objectives and Policies
