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Internet Online LapTop Warrior Discussion List
I - L-A-P-T-O-P W-A-R-R-I-O-R D-I-G-E-S-T

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November 9, 1998 Issue # 034
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.....IN THIS DIGEST.....


// -- MODERATOR COMMENT -- //

High cost of hotel phones


// -- NEW -- //

The perfect connection
~ Peter Berzanskis

Cell phone hookup?
~ Julia Heers

AT&T World Net
~ tstephenson@rodgers.rain.com


// -- CONTINUING -- //

Laptop security and video editing
~ Tito Rosemberg

CompuServe Update
~ Nick Harkins


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// -- MODERATOR COMMENT -- //

High cost of hotel phones

I'm in France and heading towards Switzerland later today. So far, it's
been a very successful trip as far as connections go. I've used the iPass
roaming network (http://www.ipass.com), connecting mostly from hotel phones.

While my connections have been successful, they have not been inexpensive
because of the extraordinary cost of phone calls from hotels. In Barcelona,
it was just a local call so it wasn't bad. But from the smaller towns I've
stayed in in France, I've always needed to call long distance. I paid $20
for one night in Perpignan for just two short connections, one in the
evening and one the next morning. A later stay in Arles for 4 days ran me
closer to $100. And this was mostly just for email. Very little surfing.

Part of the problem was the number of unsuccessful connections. As far as
I'm concerned iPass works great. But the service can only work as well as
the Internet Service Providers that are in its network. In general, I've
found European ISPs slow and unreliable. I'm often bumped off a connection
(but I try not to get upset as I believe most Europeans have to deal with
this on a regular basis). And of course, every time I have to redial, the
hotel is in my wallet for another hefty fee.

What to do? The only answer I came up with was a realization that not all
ISPs are created equally. For example, I have had much more luck connecting
with an iPass number in Toulouse than the number in Montpellier. As
Toulouse is further from Provence than Montpellier, I have probably paid
higher rates, but the connection is more reliable, so I've had to redial
less often.

I have also tried to stay away from peak computing hours in Europe. The
reliability of connections and the response time varies considerably with
the hour of the day.

~ Bob Lawson, Moderator


// -- N-E-W -- //

From: "Peter Berzanskis" <bikeshop@mail.austasia.net>
Subject: The perfect connection

There's a lot of really useful information on the net, then there's the
rubbish. And every now and then there's a little gem. Thanks for this list
and a great web site!

I've already gleaned a number of tips and will contact my ISP regarding
iPass and GRIC. I lead cycling groups through Bali and neighbouring island
Lombok and need to keep up with inquiries coming from the web site used to
promote the tours. I'm wondering if anyone has hints on the finer details of
getting that perfect connection in what is sometimes fairly isolated
territory. For example, what type of phone connections I'll need and just
how practical is it to access my mail from a small family-run losman?

Also, is it more practical for me to subscribe to an Indonesian ISP (given
the low cost) for the three months a year that I'm there and somehow access
my local ISP through them?

Cheers
Peter Berzanskis
Point Lonsdale, Australia
bikeshop@mail.austasia.net
Bali and Lombok Cycling Tours
www.icycle.com.au


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: "Julia Heers" <julia@heers.com>
Subject: cell phone hookup?

Is anyone able to get online using their cell phone?

Julia (Jill) Heers & Dirk Reemtsma
Ranch & Sea Realty
760-731-3182 Home Office
800-262-9937 Main Office
url= http://www.heers.com


++++ next post ++++

From: tstephenson@rodgers.rain.com
Subject: AT&T World Net

I am very interested if anyone has had much experience with AT&T WorldNet
Service. Many of my colleagues use it here in the United States and seem to
like the convenience. How is it outside the US?

Tim Stephenson
tstephenson@rodgers.rain.com


// -- C-O-N-T-I-N-U-I-N-G -- //

From: Tito Rosemberg <titorosemberg@pobox.com>
Subject: Laptop security and video editing

Re: Ray Kienle / Laptops and airport security, I-Laptop #32

I have passed my trouble-prone Toshiba laptop through at least 50 x-ray
machines in different airports, from modern to ancient ones, and my laptop
did not acquire any new problems beyond the usual Toshiba crankiness, and
all of them were previous to my airport experiences. I travel with my laptop
inside my one and only carry-on pack, that goes faithfully inside those ugly
looking x-ray machines. I also have no special protection, such as a lead
bag, for it. In all these travels I have never lost a file, or corrupted any
software. Hope that tranquilizes you.

Re: Vincent Malmgren/ Laptop for video editing, I-Laptop #32

Just to let you know, in case you are looking for a new computer, my
experience with Toshiba laptops is catastrophic. Only 18 months ago my brand
new Toshiba Satellite 430 CDT had to be returned the same day to the shop
where I bought due to general freeze-up. In these 18 months it did not hold
a steady connection in the USA, Brazil, France, Italy and Spain.

"The problem is your modem" the service center told me. I sent my US
Robotics modem to the manufacturer and they returned it saying it was
"perfect". Bought another identical and problems did not end. Bought a
Toshiba Noteworthy modem (over 700 dollars later) and the problem continued
to this day.

Then 20 days ago I bought a brand new Toshiba Tecra 8000, 300mhz that has
never worked right, freezing on start up after a sign appeared saying that a
file "vmm32.vxd" was missing. Toshiba representatives in the service center
here in San Diego and at the factory in Irvine gave me three different
answers.

First they changed the systems board, the RAM memory card ("was defective")
and then reformatted de hard drive ("the software is conflicting"). All this
in a brand new computer. Needless to say my Tecra 8000 is still as bad as
ever, freezing on start up most of the time. I am having to send it to the
shop where I bought it (over the Internet) and ask for a new one, spending
money to send it back and to return a new one.

Whatever laptop you buy, just beware of the problems this two-Toshiba owner
has gone through. Also may I add, I will never buy another machine from
them. If anyone wants more info about my 18 months, two machines
catastrophic experiences, I'll be glad to answer. By the way, I am leaving
in two days to Europe with my old 430 CDT still dropping the connection once
every few minutes... Can't wait to have a decent trouble-free laptop in my
hands.

Tito Rosemberg
titorosemberg@pobox.com


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: "Nick Harkins" <nickh@sprynet.com>
Subject: CompuServe Update

>My real concern is the fact that AOL has taken over C'serve and it
>is not clear what the future for this service is. (I-Laptop #33)

Update on CompuServe: AOL bought CompuServe (CSi, CompuServe
"International!") and spun off parts to WorldCom/MCI and MindSpring. I have
recently talked to both CSi and MindSpring and they indicate that they are
discontinuing international connectivity (roaming), but may re-launch
something international in the future. This latter comment is mine, they
were not encouraging.

I want cheap connectivity in France. I'm still looking. I am spoiled having
used CSi for years.

Nicolaus R. Harkins
San Francisco
nickh@sprynet.com


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Subject: Funny phones in Switzerland and France

Last two times I was in Europe, I came across phones that puzzled
me. One was in Switzerland, the other in France. The phones were
of a modern variety. They were wired in to the wall with Swiss and
French modular phone line plugs, as one would expect. But on the
other end of the phone line that ran from the wall, there was a
US-style RJ11 plug.

Oh, boy, I thought, this should be easy to go online. Since these
were residential lines I wasn't worried about digital service, so I
took the line out of the phone and plugged it directly into my
modem.

Nothing. It didn't work.

So I got out my line tester and checked out what I was dealing
with. In both cases, I found the polarity reversed on the lines.
I was surprised. Has anyone found similar circumstances and can
anyone offer an explanation? It was my understanding that the
general rule that a phone was a phone the world over still applied
(with the exception of digital PBX systems, of course).

My immediate solution was to pull out my alligator clips and put
the polarity back as it should be.

Bob Lawson

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