Ekona

That's the spirit sir!

Quick little anecdote here, not for any particular reason but just a show of why customer service is worth it's weight in gold. After an hour or so of playing my new V30 amp, I noticed that I was getting massive pops whenever I changed from the drive channel to the clean, but never the other way round. I made Andertons aware of this pretty sharpish, they didn't offer any real advice outside of the usual try a different cable thing (which I did, no joy), so I took a punt and contacted Victory direct. Got a reply from Andy the next day, who is the top service guy there, who suggested it might be a faulty preamp valve. I put together a little video for him demonstrating how bad it was, and after a discussion between him and Martin (Kidd, from Cornford Amps fame) they said that it was actually a faulty mute circuit. Couple of emails between them and Andertons with me copied in as well and everyone had agreed that I should just take mine back and swap it out for a new one. Here is a reason to always keep the box... Popped in, swapped amp, job done. Re-tested their demo one which definitely didn't pop so I wasn't going mad, and came out with a brand new one that doesn't pop at all. In fact I'd say it sounds meatier yet clearer than the old one, suggesting to me that there might've been a catastrophic failure somewhere on the board somewhere. It was all handled so professionally yet friendly on both sides, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either company to anyone. Victory especially were superb, and I'm glad I bought from a smaller British firm rather than just buy a Mesa Boogie now. Unfortunately I also got round to trying some Les Pauls, and I now want one of those too. I've chosen the guitar I want, I just can't decide on colour. Tempted to buy both then send back the one I don't like. Expensive trip was expensive!

Massive bullet dodged. She's being a PITA before you've even given her any money, imagine what she'll be like afterwards.

WWED I should get stickers made up.

It's a nice to have, but tbh it's really not needed unless you're running different tracks day in, day out. For the most part you'll find one setting that works for 95% of roads, and one setting that works for 95% of tracks. If you're the kind of person who rocks up to a track day and constantly adjusts aero, ARBs, tyre pressures and damper settings then I can see a genuine use for it, otherwise it's just a bit gimmicky. Be handy for initial tuning for sure, save a lot of time, but other than that's it's just a gadget. You may be able to get it to work with other brands as it's just a little motor that spins the adjustment knob, but I wouldn't like to say for sure.

My 6 Plus is the first phone I've kept for more than a year, I'll admit. It does everything so very well, so I didn't feel the need to upgrade to the S, nor the 7. I will be getting the 7S/8/X/whatever it's called this year, simply because it's now starting to feel a bit sluggish with new apps. No surprises there though, it's a four year old design!

Sorry bud, but that's absolute nonsense. "Inevitable as an Apple device owner, you will one day find yourself swearing about their ecosystem because it is cringeworthy", what utter tosh. In ten years it's never bothered me in the slightest People are buying Android devices because they're a heck of a lot cheaper. That's it. They do exactly what an iPhone does, but they do it differently for less. If I were starting again with no history of either OS I might well choose Android too simply based on a better spec device at a lower price. Or I might not. There's plenty of people who switch to Android, realise it's not for them and switch back (me included), to say that they don't is just daft. All iTunes songs are DRM-free, so what's your Mum's problem? And given that most people are switching to streaming services these days like Spotify etc, why is that even an issue any more? This started off as a reasonable conversation and I agreed with some of your earlier points, but I can't argue on this level with a fanboy. Apple do some things well, Android does some things well, and both do some things terribly. Two different ways of doing things, but neither is better nor worse overall.

Because they make the best product for my needs. Why would I choose something inferior (for my purposes) just because it's seen as more fashionable not to be fashionable? Given that Androids outsell iPhones now, surely the sheeple now own an Android phone? Tbh once you start using the fashion argument about phones and OSeseses I'm reluctant to continue a sensible debate. I don't use a PC over a Mac because I want to be cool, I use it because I want to play games which I can't do as easily on a Mac. I have no moral issues with Apple at all. They're no worse than any other large corporation, and given that their customer service is awesome I'll forgive almost any minor discretions.

...and of course, it only cost £50 when she asks.

Love those wheels In other news, Pirelli Color [sic] Edition tyres are now available to pre-order. Only for certain cares, but go have a look at the site and check out the prices...!

Ten years this year since the iPhone came out, btw. I remember looking at one in the O2 shop (that was the only place you could get them, if you remember) and thinking it was okay but nothing special. Decided to treat myself to one a couple of months later and found myself quite amazed by how good it was, and then ten years on and I've totally bought into the Apple ecosystem. Couldn't imagine having a phone without proper interwebs stuff now. I think that overall Apple have got slightly worse, but Android has got much better. Early Android was a clusterf*ck and buggy as hell, whereas early Apple was design and simplicity perfection. Now Android is arguably more stable and iOS the one that looks poorly designed

*grabs tinfoil hat*

Which is both the biggest failure and biggest strength of Android. For me personally, I feel the Apple system is a far better way of doing it, and certainly they're more open to letting various different kinds of software on their devices these days. Not perfect, but better.

Interesting thoughts. I'd say that I care about my technology, but I'm also sick to the back teeth of having to fiddle with stuff to get it to work: These days it should work perfectly from the get-go, and not require me to spend an age with it. I guess that's why although I dearly want the S8 as the specs look amazing, I'm more content to have an inferior device technically but something generally more reliable. So yeah, I'd say your statement is pretty true. Thing with the iOS range is that it's now heading in a very different direction than it used to. Apple stuff was never the cutting edge technology wise but the design & quality of the hardware was always superior to everything, plus the software design aesthetic was incredibly cohesive and well sorted. Nowadays they're chasing the tech brigade to a point, and the OS is getting somewhat messy. It's a shame, but sadly it still fits my needs best so colour me white and make me baa and all that.

It's always the same with size, it's just what you get used to (fnar). Everyone was shocked when the 5 came out, then again with the 6 and 6 Plus, now that's just the norm. I used to rip the p*ss over people who had monster sized phones, now I wouldn't be without my 6 Plus and anything else just feels too small to use as a device. I still look a twit when using it as a phone mind you I'd love an S8, but I can't get on with Android at all. That's just me though, I can equally see why some don't like the stubborn way iOS does things either.

And at least this one has a proper gearbox now Sounds like a lofty target matey, will keep an eye on this thread with interest.

They all will fit, trouble is there's many different kinds of seat and many different ways of mounting and many different side mounts and many different runners etc. That's when you need to get creative, sadly.

So you're saying the road surface plays no significant part in that at all?

^^^This.

If just material damage then nothing, you race at your own risk always. However, if the driver/team is seen to be carrying out dangerous activities, then the regs for the series will almost certainly allow for financial penalties. Not sure on Italian law, but on the basis that all EU law is broadly the same then if someone had been injured/died due to negligence then there would be both criminal and civil liability. That's the case in the UK definitely, and like I say I'm just surmising it would be the same across the EU.

Can't say I blame him, if I had the cash I would too

Even if the S1 was the fastest car in the world, I'd still rather own a 350Z.

Mine was this year Genuinely too, not just saying that to be an arse. I did the usual thing of saying "Ah okay, I'll get back to you" after they said they couldn't go any lower, then rang around many a company only to find out that the renewal was the lowest price after all, so had to go back and pay it anyway

Wondered where the thicker lines were left, on the runway or on his seat?

Agreed, it's the wrong call completely. If, as that article says, two-thirds of people are on non-fixed tariffs and could save money simply by making a 10min phonecall, then surely that's their problem? Ofgem already checks for unjustified price hikes anyway.