When the internet takes over the world!

Welcome to PocketSurfer2 : Request_form

I have just sent the following request to Datawind UK Ltd. as I am interested to see their response.

Dear Sirs,

I am very interested in utilising this product as an ICT solution for a Community Interest Company in Sustainable Waste Management located within Dinefwr, Cymru. 

Specifically for the use of members and volunteers when 'out on the road', during collections and when travelling to meetings. I am currently developing an online office system and use both Windows Office Live and Google Apps.  I would be interested to know the compatibility with .doc, .docx, .ppt etc.  While I have seen many videos on YouTube and the like, I would be very grateful if I could see, feel, interact with a working model to test functionality and synchronisation ability.

theARCproject aims to develop low-impact solutions for energy descent and seek to develop,improve and rebuild community education, training and skills across the third sector.

Therefore, I would be grateful if someone could contact me in relation to this matter.  I look forward to further communication.

Sincerely yours,

Adam S. Margetts Esq. BA

Co-ordinator, theARCproject

+447857705655

To me, this seems like a wonderful low-cost system for mobile internet access – while apparently not having any audio or video functions built into the device – it appears to have the written word functionality you would wish for a virtual office on the move, as much administration and correspondence are now being done online. [a great way to reduce paper!]

Video trailers for this device also show the ability for GPS mapping to be used via Google Maps.  This is extremely useful when collecting or delivering items, especially in rural areas.

 

I have for a long time been searching for a low cost integrated telecommunications system and while this device does not ANY have mobile phone application – it may not need to.

Thinking in relation to the relative affordability of SIM cards and old mobile phones the audio communication may be better focussed this way.

As theARCproject now has a SKYPE account, and as SKYPE offer IM service for free (as do Google and others), any online user is able to simply text messages across the network.

Through either the Google Apps account or Windows Office Live account, emails, documents and files can be uploaded, altered or downloaded from online members.

 

Number Crunching

Sounds, expensive!

Well lets see…

Brand New In the Box Approx. £139-189

‘Off eBay’ Approx. £50-90

elsewhere ????

Okay, so we have a DataWind PocketSurfer2!

What’s the monthly cost? Well, if you stay under 20 hours per week IT’S FREE! for 12 months. Anymore you can pay £5 per month for UNLIMITED use.  (No apparent FAIR USE POLICY applies.)

Next year’s cost for 12 months free internet access is £40.

So, we have a device that can give you 2 years internet access for less than £200

There has got to be a catch!?! Let’s see what happens….

Home Growing

As the great Welsh weather warms again, I am thinking about my garden - both from an aesthetic appreciation and practically from what we can achieve in the time available.

Having been in this property for almost five years now, we have spent very little productive time in our outdoor space. No longer the jungle of dandelions and couch grasses that it has been in previous years, the skeleton of the garden is once again visable. It is now our plan to put into practise some of the self-sufficient theories I have been researching and archiving for many years!

While the land we have is not large (in respect to the local landscape of farming and agriculture. - but still approxiamtely 100ft length by 20ft wide. When considering what we are able to do, we must take into account the other facilities and resources we have and need on our land.
1. Hounds - A Rhodesian Ridgeback x English Mastiff and a Golden Labrador x Bull Terrier
2. Two Cats
3. Two Rabbits
4. Fire-pit and communal area.
5. An area for chickens

We have currently split the garden into three or four areas.
1. Backdoor Area - hardstanding, shed.
2. Raised Seating Area - herb beds, fire-pit, benches and tables
3. Lower Grass/Soil Area -

(Archive material 2011/12)