Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

CKhalvashi

kabayiri wrote: »

DW's 5-series is a better handling car than my 4x4; in fact it's a superior car on most levels.

We had a 535d....That was one hell of a car.

I don't get the thing with 0-60 times; it was slower than the M5 on this, but quicker from 30-50 and 40-70. Unbadged M-Sport spec (completely indifferent from the 520d on the outside) gave a few supposedly faster cars some surprises.

Have you been round the Jag plants? They've spent a lot of money by all accounts.

I managed to wangle picking the XF from the factory in late 2012, and with the work happening there at the time, wouldn't be surprised if it's very different now.

Mine was one of the first Sportbrakes off the production line, and through contacts in Jaguar, the F-Pace is going to be one of the first off the line, too.

Can't see an option for that lovely blue in their promotional materials, and we've settled for a black 2,0d R-Sport with the auto gearbox, with a black interior.

Generali

kabayiri wrote: »

That's a good deal.

Tbh, I try to use Open Source when I can. Even Google Docs is often sufficient.

It's the business/development software where Microsoft makes its money.

I'd like Visual Studio Ultimate, but even in the USA I think it was $13,000 dollars. That's a lot when you factor in the need to renew/upgrade every year.

In the 80s I used some AI software which was £50K a copy - single user. Now, that was expensive.

I need Office if I'm going to work from home, something I try to do once a fortnight at least and ideally I'll do once a week soon.

I use some quite complex functions in Excel and it really is the right tool for the job for me. Any cash saving would cost far more in time. Excel also links with Bloomberg and other data suppliers very easily.

I've never owned a flash car. I'd consider one but it's quite a long way down the list of priorities TBH.

Generali

I've been giving The Girl an education via You Tube this morning: so far we've had a bit more Laurel and Hardy, some Stevie Wonder and now we're on Safety Last, the Harold Lloyd film.

silvercar

Generali wrote: »

I just bought Office 2016 Professional under their Home User Program. It's a thing Microsoft do where if you use Office at work they will sell it to you very cheaply for home use. I paid about £7.

I think that price only works if your employer has the right sort of licence. Annoyingly DS2's employer is the right sort of employer but doesn't seem to have done so. I don't think universities have a licence that would cover students either.

kabayiri

Generali wrote: »

I've been giving The Girl an education via You Tube this morning: so far we've had a bit more Laurel and Hardy, some Stevie Wonder and now we're on Safety Last, the Harold Lloyd film.

I have all the Laurel & Hardy films in a boxset presentation briefcase thing.

Pure class IMO. But I think the humour is a little slow burn for the kids.

Generali

silvercar wrote: »

I think that price only works if your employer has the right sort of licence. Annoyingly DS2's employer is the right sort of employer but doesn't seem to have done so. I don't think universities have a licence that would cover students either.

I don't imagine students would qualify.

It looks like if your employer hasn't signed up you can still do it as long as you have an email address with your employer.

On the subject of cars:

kabayiri

CKhalvashi wrote: »

...
I managed to wangle picking the XF from the factory in late 2012, and with the work happening there at the time, wouldn't be surprised if it's very different now.

Mine was one of the first Sportbrakes off the production line, and through contacts in Jaguar, the F-Pace is going to be one of the first off the line, too.

Can't see an option for that lovely blue in their promotional materials, and we've settled for a black 2,0d R-Sport with the auto gearbox, with a black interior.

Sounds really nice. I do like Jags to ride in; never actually driven one. To think, there was an almost abandoned E-type parked opposite the house where I grew up. Nobody gave it a second glance - and realised what they would be worth.

kabayiri

Generali wrote: »

...
I've never owned a flash car. I'd consider one but it's quite a long way down the list of priorities TBH.

It's DW who buys the new cars. I either get the cast offs or run cars into the ground.

I'm interested in how all the technology works in a new car, but once I've worked it out I lose interest.

CKhalvashi

kabayiri wrote: »

Sounds really nice. I do like Jags to ride in; never actually driven one. To think, there was an almost abandoned E-type parked opposite the house where I grew up. Nobody gave it a second glance - and realised what they would be worth.

Something I always wanted, since a kid.

Can't justify spending £100+k on a decent one for it to spend half its life in the garage, though.

I was really tempted to get an F-Type, but decided against that again due to practicality issues, the main one being only 2 seats.

What I miss, especially with the XE I have now, is being able to chuck half the crap I could just throw in the S-Max and forget about. The XF, being an estate, was surprisingly practical.

kabayiri

kabayiri wrote: »

DW is having her party in the rooms on the other side of the house. We have been banished to the lounge!
...

Party update.

DW and I took the dog for a decent walk, and could hear the music coming from the house as we entered the road!

Luckily, we have few neighbours to annoy, as I've mentioned before.

I challenged DD, explaining our agreement to keep the music at a certain level.

"I never turned it up Dad!" she said exasperated.

I then pointed at the digital readout, in bright green numerals, showing the new higher setting.

...I think they call that a bang to rights.

All we have to do now is face off the raids on the drinks cupboard