Recent content by Steve

>If your support would have been available a few months ago, then Keith would still be in business, at least support him now. So it's our fault? I object to that sentiment. We - the potential customers- are still here. If Keith failed to reach us and win our custom, that's entirely down to him.

Hi Richie, I'd recommend the baby Trend - it's an excellent and deceptively powerful machine. Certainly in a different league to the Power Devil stuff, although I don't know about the Axminster. I'm sure most would agree you can't really go wrong with Trend. Steve

I was similarly hesitant about the Tormek, but as I do a bit of turning I decided to bite the bullet. It was one of the wisest buys I've ever made and like Paul, I'd be lost without it. It gives you a really superior, polished edge that simply can't be achieved with a grinder. Steve

Well well! Ray's link (above this) is to a well informed and authoritative article which states the position with crystal clarity. it just shows how many misconceptions there are out in WW land! Many thanks one 'n all - cheers Ray! Steve

Fair enough Alf, Just to let everybody know that the Stiles and Bates system will shortly place all details on a single HTTPS server, and that name address, telephone information will therefore be encrypted. Not only will nobody be able to get your credit or debit card details, but they won't...

Hi Niel, That, by any definition, sets you up as an arbiter of standards. My beef is that you will not listen to advice or budge a millimetre even when it is painstakingly explained. People will look at the list and take your advice, and you should therefore provide good advice. The resultant...

Hi Mud, I've just read on your profile that you're an IT consultant. Please tell me this isn't true. Steve

Hi Ike, Your point is well made, and it is shared by Dave Bates who, whilst finding the situation as frustrating as I (well - almost!), realises that it is customer perceptions that count, not the realities. In a matter of a year or two, there will be legislation insisting that card details and...

Hi Mud, Your personal details, name, address, telephone/fax numbers, email address/es, buying habits, holiday destinations are all there for the buying anytime anybody wants them. Further, the attitudinal profile of you and anyone living at your address is also available. Likely political...

Hello all, The mind positively boggles. Despite my best efforts, the points made by Neil, Aragorn, Mudman et al have won the day. I find myself in the strange position of having to downgrade the security of a site so that people think it is more secure. Steve

Hi Alf, That's the crucial question, and the answer is that the name and address details can't be handled as securely as the card details - it simply cannot be done. Firstly, they are already open so it is like concreting up the stable door when the horse moved out twenty years ago, and...

Hi Chaps, My word - we really are getting down to it here! Neil is absolutely correct, because we agree that the definition of 'secure' on the web means that data is encrypted and stored on an httpS server. We agree therefore that the name and address details are not secure. What I have been...

Hi all, I'm not sure how to explain this any further than I have already - but I'll have one last go if you'll bear with me...! The name and address details go unencrypted on a highly protected commercial server that we'll call server A. The card details go encrypted on a secure server with...

Hi Alf, https stands for 'Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure' - and that tells you that any exchange of form-based information (eg anything you type in and submit) will be scrambled to hell, and re-constituted when it arrives on the server. There are quite a few dodgy workarounds for this...

Hi Alf, I think you're confusing 'secure' with 'encrypted'. The order details are secure - they are sent to a sever that is ringfenced and firewalled to the highest standards, and that is also monitored constantly. No one can get at 'em and they certainly aren't floating around the ether! Even...