News: Free broadband..

Free broadband is a good thing - however what it mostly provide is guaranteed customers for the landline services of companies such as TalkTalk, Sky and others. Always make sure you know what your entitled download is - e.g. 40Gb for TalkTalk - and make sure that the download speed available will meet your needs.

Link: http://www.talktalk.co.uk/

eBay Technical: Adobe announces Open Screen Project

Adobe today announced the Open Screen Project, supported by a group of industry leaders, including ARM, Chunghwa Telecom, Cisco, Intel, LG Electronics Inc., Marvell, Motorola, Nokia, NTT DoCoMo, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics Co., Sony Ericsson, Toshiba and Verizon Wireless. The project is dedicated to driving rich Internet experiences across televisions, personal computers, mobile devices, and consumer electronics. Also supporting the Open Screen Project are leading content providers, including BBC, MTV Networks, and NBC Universal, who want to reliably deliver rich Web and video experiences live and on-demand across a variety of devices.

The Open Screen Project is working to enable a consistent runtime environment -- taking advantage of Adobe® Flash® Player and, in the future, Adobe AIR™ -- that will remove barriers for developers and designers as they publish content and applications across desktops and devices, including phones, mobile Internet devices (MIDs), and set top boxes. The Open Screen Project will address potential technology fragmentation by enabling the runtime technology to be updated seamlessly over the air on mobile devices. The consistent runtime environment is intended to provide optimal performance across a variety of operating systems and devices, and ultimately provide the best experience to consumers.

To support this mission, and as part of Adobe’s ongoing commitment to enable Web innovation, Adobe will continue to open access to Adobe Flash technology, accelerating the deployment of content and rich Internet applications (RIAs). This work will include:

• Removing restrictions on use of the SWF and FLV/F4V specifications
  
• Publishing the device porting layer APIs for Adobe Flash Player
  
• Publishing the Adobe Flash® Cast™ protocol and the AMF protocol for robust data services
  
• Removing licensing fees – making next major releases of Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR for devices free
  

“Adobe is spearheading the Open Screen Project with support from industry leaders who share a common vision to provide rich, interactive experiences across computers, devices and consumer electronics,” said Shantanu Narayen, chief executive officer at Adobe. “A consistent, more open platform for developers will drive rapid innovation, vastly improving the user experience.”

Adobe Flash Player is the world’s most pervasive client runtime, delivering unparalleled creative options, highly engaging user experiences, stunning audio/video playback, and universal reach. Content for Adobe Flash Player reaches over 98 percent of Internet-enabled desktops and more than a half billion handsets and mobile devices today. Adobe expects more than one billion handsets and mobile devices to ship with Adobe Flash technology by 2009. Flash technology is used to deliver vector graphics, text, interactivity and application logic, video and sound over the Internet. More than 75 percent of broadcasters who stream video on the Web use Flash technology. Adobe AIR is the next-generation RIA runtime for the desktop, supporting HTML, Ajax, Adobe Flash technology and PDF.

The digital explosion across multiple screens is raising consumers’ expectations for engaging experiences wherever and however they connect with content. Web browsing on mobile devices is becoming commonplace, but delivering a consistent rich Internet experience remains a challenge. To ensure that user expectations are fulfilled, software applications and video must work seamlessly across multiple devices and content must be easily available across those devices.

Support for Rich Web Content and Applications Everywhere
Companies supporting the Open Screen Project share Adobe’s vision that a consistent and more open platform across devices will drive rapid innovation that will ultimately be good for consumers. The participants in the Open Screen Project are leading companies in the mobile, desktop and device ecosystems that will contribute in unique ways to this project.

“Delivering a highly responsive, uncompromised Web and rich media experience to consumer devices and the digital home is a key focus for ARM and our partners,” said Warren East, CEO, ARM. “The Open Screen Project with Adobe enables ARM and our partners to optimize and deploy Flash Player and Adobe AIR across billions of ARM Powered® devices and unlocks the ability for hardware optimizations on future ARM® processors.”

“The market is transitioning from the connected home office to the multimedia enabled home,” said Ned Hooper, senior vice president, Corporate Development, Consumer and Small Business Group at Cisco. “Through our Linksys by Cisco product leadership, we can transform life’s experiences by effortlessly connecting people to their digital world at home, at work and on the move. We share a common vision with Adobe and the Open Screen Project, and expect to work together to help enable the fusion of Web, television and user-generated content delivered anywhere, at any time and to any device.”

“Consumers always want more from their devices,” said Doug Fisher, Intel Vice President and General Manager, System Software Division. “Flash Player already reaches the vast majority of Internet-connected computers, and our deep technical collaboration with Adobe will optimize Flash technology and Adobe AIR across a broad range of devices, including a version of Adobe AIR for the Mobile and Internet Linux project, moblin.org. Intel’s broad and rich hardware and software ecosystem combined with Adobe’s Open Screen Project will help us deliver a full Internet experience, whether it be in your pocket, on your lap, at the office or in your living room.”

“Users clearly want full functionality, the same look and feel, and a similar instantaneous user experience as they have on their PCs,” said Dr. Sehat Sutardja, president and chief executive officer at Marvell. “We are very excited Adobe is making this happen through the Open Screen Project by unifying the software requirements across all platforms. Marvell is contributing to the success of this effort by providing PC class computing horsepower through our advanced application processor technology that is used in many of our mobile and consumer devices.”

“As a long-standing champion of open standards, Motorola supports Adobe’s Open Screen Project and its goal of enabling a more open development experience for the ecosystem,” said Christy Wyatt, vice president, software platforms and ecosystem, Motorola. “We expect the Open Screen Project to further accelerate the use of Flash technology and innovation in mobile applications, interfaces, and platforms, allowing mobile users to experience the richness of the Web on a variety of new devices.”

“Our approach is to empower fans, Web developers and publishers to access, share and interact with our content freely across platforms,” said Mika Salmi, President, Global Digital Media, MTV Networks. “We’re embracing the Open Screen Project so that our fans can continue not only to enjoy our brands, but also build and contribute to them on every device and screen without limitation.”

“NBC Universal delivers a majority of our content in the FLV format across more than 20 streaming video players on our numerous digital properties. We’re excited about supporting this project, which will reduce barriers to Flash technology adoption on non-PC devices and help ensure NBC Universal content can be seen anywhere,” said Darren Feher, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at NBC Universal. “Clearly, devices continue to increase in importance as a means to access rich content and applications, and we are delighted to work with Adobe to deliver great experiences through these additional distribution channels.”

“As a long time strategic partner of Adobe, we are pleased to help launch the Open Screen Project and applaud Adobe’s move toward removing barriers to adoption of Flash technology in the mobile ecosystem. Nokia will continue to deploy Flash runtime technologies on our devices,” said Lee Williams, Senior Vice President, Nokia Devices Software. “Nokia has a long history of pioneering the deployment of Flash technology in the mobile market and we look forward to exploring future opportunities with Adobe AIR for devices. Today’s announcement will help spur a new generation of rich Internet experiences on mobile devices.”

“NTT DoCoMo has long been challenging the evolution of mobile services and Adobe Flash technology has been a crucial part of our success and the work of thousands of mobile developers in Japan,” said Kiyoyuki Tsujimura, Executive Vice President, Managing Director of Products & Services Division of NTT DoCoMo. “As a longtime strategic partner and innovative operator delivering Flash to millions of mobile customers, we applaud Adobe’s move as the next essential step to enable even richer and more expressive mobile experiences. We look forward to working with Adobe and the members of the Open Screen Project to deliver a consistent application runtime environment to devices everywhere.”

“Qualcomm welcomes Adobe’s Open Screen Project,” said Steve Mollenkopf, senior vice president of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “It aligns well with our BREW mobile platform and highly-integrated chipset solutions, allowing an expanded ecosystem of developers to bring applications and services to users of a wide range of 3G mobile devices.”

“A broad range of our handsets are Flash-enabled based on our belief that an engaging and integrated mobile application and Web experience is essential to our users. Adobe’s Open Screen Project will help to further expand the use of Flash technology across the full family of Sony Ericsson mobile devices to energize communication,” said Rikko Sakaguchi, Head of Portfolio and Propositions, at Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications. “Flash technology and Adobe AIR are natural fits to Sony Ericsson’s strategy of building on the best of the Open Web Standards and will help provide new mobile experiences to millions of users around the world.”

“The Open Screen Project will make it simple for Verizon and our partners to deliver rich mobile experiences to more devices,” said Mike Lanman, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Verizon Wireless. “As a complement to our Open Developer Initiative, Adobe’s move and our ability to contribute to this initiative will further enable developers and content providers to deliver the next generation of applications using Flash technology and Adobe AIR across mobile platforms and devices worldwide.”

The implications for eBay use across devices are quite clear. With the eBay Desktop using Adobe's AIR runtime, this can in future be run across multiple platforms and devices allowing for an identical experience regardless of the lead into the website. As the technology evolves, this could - we think - see other things happening too.

For more information about the Open Screen Project, visit the website at www.adobe.com/go/openscreenproject.

PC General: UK employers braced for unprecedented outbreak of “GTA flu”

Experts predict widespread absence as eagerly awaited game debuts on Tuesday 29th April

Experts are warning UK employers that Tuesday 29th April will see a never-before seen wave of absenteeism, with thousands of gamers faking illness to play a highly-anticipated video game.

Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is the first new game in the critically acclaimed series for almost four years, and goes on sale across the country at midnight on Tuesday 29th April. Gaming commentators believe that moving the on-sale date from a traditional Friday release, and the allure of being the first to play Grand Theft Auto IV, will see the country erupt in a widespread outbreak of “GTA flu.”

GTA flu is likely to be a twenty-hour illness, with those calling in sick joining a massive legion of gamers who have already booked a legitimate day off to enjoy the game. Widely predicted to sell 6.5m copies internationally in its first week, GTA IV will be a record-breaker, outstripping sales of music and film, further propelling the games industry to the forefront of entertainment.

George Walter, Editor of GamesRadar.com, said:

“As far as gamers are concerned the release of GTA IV is the biggest event of all-time. To put it in perspective, this is like the launch of a new Star Wars movie, or England playing in the World Cup Final – there’s nothing as huge or important. Gamers have been waiting for a new GTA for four years and I can completely understand why they are prepared to take time off or pull a sicky in order to get stuck in as soon as they can. Nobody wants to miss out.”

James Binns is Publishing Director of games magazine, Edge:

“Having worked in the games industry for 15 years, I’ve never witnessed anything like the hysteria building around GTA IV. This game series has become culturally significant and a new chapter is a major global event, as important as a new Harry Potter novel. Gamers want to be the first to experience GTA IV and don’t want anything to spoil their enjoyment. Businesses need to be prepared for the array of excuses and 24-hour ailments that will hit their workforce as GTA flu grips the UK.”

At eBay Advisor, we believe that people rushing to get a bargain on eBay will follow a similar pattern; whether it's GTA 4, the new Harry Potter movie or simply a must-have bargain.

Buyers Workshop: The art of communication

When buying on eBay, the convenience of bidding does tend to stop us from asking questions. Just in case you’re the inquisitive type - as you should be - we take a look at the ways you can communicate with sellers

We tend to treat eBay in general as the worlds biggest impulse purchase shop. No longer is it considered the biggest flea-market in the world; with a mixture of people clearing out their attack and multi-million turnover businesses amongst there members; it’s a medium through which you can easily furnish a home; buy for a new baby or buy a car.

Too much of eBay is done on impulse. A prospective buyer sees a description of an item; then a photograph to go with that item. They decide from that they want to make a bid; do so and then are disappointed with the end product.

If you make use of the eBay channels of communication, it’s very easy to ask questions of people who are selling items you may have an interest in.

If you need to clarify the quality of the item, do so before you bid. Whether they’ll deliver to your location, ask before you bid. Whether the device will work with your particular brand of hardware (computer or otherwise) - ask before you bid.

The secret of success on eBay lies in communication. On eBay there are a number of means, but we’ll look at two of the more significant ones.

We’ll start by looking at how you can use ask questions directly from a listing page using a message system; then (in eBay Advisor issue 4) we’ll take a look at ways to use Skype to get quicker answers to all of your questions. As they say, it’s good to talk.. before you bid.


Ask seller a question: Contact a seller through eBay

STEP ONE: Begin by browsing through eBay for items that may be of interest. In this instance, we’ve found Official eBay Advisor; an understandable curiosity. There’s no pictures, but a good sell line for the item itself. It’s this sort of item you should ask questions of. Click the item to open the listing.

STEP TWO: To the right of the listing window you’ll see a sidebar detailing the sellers feedback history, how long they’ve been on eBay and some of the options you have available. There’s a section entitled Ask seller a question, within which is Email the seller. Click the email link.

STEP THREE: This will open what is essentially an email window. Click within the subject box and you’ll have a number of options to select. This allows you to tell the seller the nature of your query. We’ve got a general question about what the item is exactly. Click General question about this item.

STEP FOUR: Ask your question, but keep it polite and straight to the point. There’s little point in getting into an argument through eBay, as one of you will end up reporting the other further down the line. Double-check that your question isn’t answered on the listing. If you’re happy to do so, click Send.

This article continues, in issue 4 of eBay Advisor, with a step-by-step guide to Skype

Buyers Workshop: Xara Xtreme 4 launches

Xara announced today a new release of Xara Xtreme and Xara Xtreme PRO, the world's fastest graphics program. But it's not only the speed that makes Xara Xtreme so popular, as it has pioneered many of the graphics technologies used in the industry today.

Favored by many professional designers for its slick workflow, Xara Xtreme is priced to be within the reach of all computer users. It's versatility makes it ideal for everything from graphic design tasks, DTP style documents, a wide range of photo handling tasks, website graphics and now complete website creation.

New in this version 4 release are:

• Ultra-fast non-destructive photo editing features,10 times faster and resulting in files 10 times smaller, than other graphics tools
  
• Real-time, fully shaded, 3D extrude
  
• Multi-core support. An average of 40% faster and up to 80% faster on dual-core processors (Xtreme Pro only)
  
• WYSIWYG website creation. Supports free-form web page design, 'anything anywhere' and advanced features such as text flow around shapes, mouse-over effects, pop-ups and more
  
• Real-time 'flow around' text repelling
  
• more than a dozen other new features and improvements.
  

Charles Moir, Managing Director of Xara Group Ltd said "The truly spectacular performance of the new photo handling, plus the fact it's completely non-destructive, moves us into new territory. The 3D extrude is simply gorgeous and, of course, faster and more slick than on any other tool. The website creation feature has been described as a significantly useful feature by beta testers."

"Xara Xtreme was always the fastest graphics tool around, but with availability of multi--core processors, users of Xara Xtreme Pro can now take advantage of these processors for maximum performance. And with the support of our parent company, Magix AG, we're making the product available in multiple languages for the first time", he added.

Xara Xtreme and Xtreme Pro are probably the most powerful, versatile graphics software, at a price to suit anyone's pocket. Xara Xtreme retails for only $89 and Xtreme Pro is only $249 (plus VAT in the EU)

For a full list of the new features see xara.com/products/xtreme/features/
You can see some examples of work created by our customers at xara.com/gallery
Demonstration movies showing Xara Xtreme Pro in operation (WMV format) are available from: xara.com/products/xtreme/tutorials-demos/

Buyers Workshop: Essential Windows Vista issue 3

Learn Smart, Learn Windows Vista - One Step at a Time!

Issue 3 of Essential Windows Vista will be hitting the shops soon. Features include:

• Get more from your e-mail
  
• The importance of Vista Security
  
• Illustrated maps take you through Vista
  
• Going Wireless
  
• Essential Vista Service Pack 1
  

Priced at £5.99, we'll have Essential Windows Vista available in your local WH Smiths or Easons store shortly.

Buyers Workshop: Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac released

Photoshop Elements gets a significant upgrade for Mac OS X users

Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced the immediate availability of Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 6 software for Macintosh®. Since its January launch at the 2008 Macworld Expo, Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac was named “Best of Show,” and given the 2008 Editors’ Choice Award by The Mac Observer and the 2008 Macworld Award by Macsimum News. The highly anticipated Photoshop Elements 6 software for Mac® combines power and simplicity so consumers at all experience levels can easily achieve outstanding results with their digital photos.

Make Photos Look Their Best
Photoshop Elements 6 software helps photography enthusiasts achieve desired results quickly and easily. New Photomerge® technology lets users create the perfect group shot by simply choosing and combining the best facial expressions and body language from a series of shots. By simply clicking and dragging over a specific area, the new Quick Selection tool snaps to the edges in seconds for the perfect selection. Three edit modes, Guided, Quick and Full, meet the needs of beginner to expert photographers. The new Guided Edit mode offers step-by-step assistance to help users improve their photos. Photoshop Elements 6 software streamlines editing with clean, uncluttered spaces that draw focus to the photos, with new tabs providing easy access to the many capabilities of the program. Additional enhancements include an improved conversion tool that dramatically converts colour images into elegant, nuanced black-and-whites.

Create and Share Photos in Fun, Engaging Ways
Photoshop Elements 6 software features new sharing options that tell stories in unique and creative ways. Users can bring their memories and moments to life by customizing layouts for photo books, scrapbook pages, greeting cards and CD/DVDs for sharing with friends and family. Additional expressive options include designing a personal online album, ordering professional-quality prints of hardbound photo books, and printing photos into real U.S. postage stamps.

Pricing and Availability
Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for Macintosh runs on Leopard, (Mac OS X v 10.5.2), as well as previous versions of Mac OS X starting with 10.4.8. The software is a Universal Binary application that will run natively on PowerPC and Intel-based Macintosh systems. Photoshop Elements 6 is immediately available at an estimated street price of £57.58. Owners of previous versions of Photoshop Elements can upgrade to Photoshop Elements 6 for £45.82.

Buyers Workshop: Speculate to accumulate

If you're into your movies, the Edinburgh Film Festival is a good place to go to meet the stars of tomorrow. Recognising the importance of the event, the UK Film Council have committed a substantial amount of funding to the event.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and the UK Film Council (UKFC) today announced a substantial funding investment in the Festival over the next three years.

The press conference at Filmhouse in Edinburgh was hosted by: UKFC CEO John Woodward, EIFF Chair John McCormick, Artistic Director Hannah McGill and Managing Director Ginnie Atkinson.

(L-R) John McCormick (Chair of EIFF), Ginnie Atkinson (EIFF Managing Director), John Woodward (UKFC CEO), Hannah McGill (EIFF Artistic Director)

The Lottery funding is part of the UK Film Council’s Film Festival Strategy to support UK film festivals. £1.88million will be made available to EIFF over a 3 year period until 2010.

The funding will support the EIFF growth plan for public audiences and industry professionals alike, on a national and international level. It will permit the Festival to continue and extend its commitment to identifying, nurturing, showcasing and promoting new films and talent.

EIFF Artistic Director Hannah McGill said, “The UKFC’s Film Festival Strategy has recognised EIFF’s national and international significance and our potential to grow. This support will enable our development, and our ability to make a bigger impact in the UK, Europe and beyond.”

The funding will support the strategic move of the EIFF dates from August to 18th - 29th June in 2008.

The funding will form an integral part of the Festival’s future, aiding growth in the areas of education, training and industry networking, whilst also allowing public audiences to see an ever wider range of films.

Since its inception in 1947 EIFF has been associated with excellence of programming and support of both the Scottish and British film industries.

EIFF Managing Director Ginnie Atkinson commented, “The Edinburgh International Film Festival is delighted to receive the grant as the first UK film festival to benefit from the Fund. It is a significant strategic investment and one that will benefit both our major constituencies - the public audience and the film industry. The funding is attached to specific activities planned to make EIFF even more effective as a meeting place in the broadest sense of the word; a place where culture, ideas and business can be progressed – and in the unique setting of one of the world’s most amazing cities.”

Chair of EIFF John McCormick said: "The Board of the Edinburgh International Film Festival is delighted at this news. The funding is not only a valuable investment in the Festival's development - enabling us to grow, to have a bigger impact and to make our mark in June - but also signifies recognition of the EIFF's importance for the UK."

Events such as the Edinburgh Film Festival are full of merchandise - if you choose your merchandise well, and keep it in as new condition, your speculation could earn you a lot of money through eBay or other auction sites. The secret is in your choice - so be careful, pay realistic prices and watch the value of your holding increase considerably.

Review: Philips VOIP 321

David Bradforth takes a look at a superb VOIP-capable phone, available to the UK directly through Skype.

Despite the enormous rise in popularity of making calls across the Internet, there are still some things which you'd have trouble doing. If you need to call the emergency services, you can't use Skype at all - it's simply not designed for that.

With the VOIP321 from Philips you can get the best of both worlds. Allowing you to connect one handset to both a landline and your computer, the VOIP321 allows you to make and take calls from both networks on the single handset.

The display allows you to work through your Skype address book while away from the computer; and all it takes is a press of a button to choose between a fixed line or a Skype call.

There's a lot to be said for having a cordless handset to use VOIP services. Up until this point I've been using a headset while sitting on my PC simply because a lot of the time I need to switch across to the Mac in a matter of seconds.

While the Philips offering failed to work with the Mac version of Skype, for the PC the sound quality was consistently high and easily matched that of a fixed headset.

What was annoying was the need to have the telephone socket next to your computer. if you're using a fixed network, it's possible that your landline socket is in an entirely separate room to your computer and hence providing the connections the phone needs proved a challenge.

Included with the handset are 60 minutes of SkypeOut calls; a nice addition for those looking to immediately experiment with the device. The price is a little high, however. For £55 I can buy a new cordless handset for the landline, plus a headset for the computer and have significant change left over to spend on SkypeOut minutes.

That said the convenience factor can't be understated and above all else that's exactly what this offers. Quality and convenience but it comes at a price.

Product Information

• Product Name: VOIP 321
• Price: £55
• Supplier: Philips (skype.com within the UK)
• Website: www.skype.com

Review Amilo Pro v3405

David Bradforth takes a look at a competitive offering from Fujitsu-Siemens offering good performance in a compact shell

Computing on the move continues to evolve at a rapid pace. With the public demanding lightweight, slender, powerhouses that rival the processing ability of desktop PCs; an increasing number of manufacturers are offering relatively high-specification laptops to suit those with a smaller budget.

The first thing you'll notice about the AMILO Pro is how little it weighs. Given the size of it, pretty much that of a standard compact notebook, the AMILO weighs surprisingly little; which can make all the difference when using a computer on the move.

It boasts a full-size keyboard, 14.1-inch WXGA display, 60Gb drive, 512Mb RAM and a multi-format capable DVD writer. You can use the built-in wireless capabilities to download large files; burn them to DVD and share them with friends.

Watching a move on the display was a joy. The glare factor that used to be present regardless of the notebook in use seems to no longer be present and the sound quality made it easy to lose yourself into the movie rather than the quality of what you were listening to.

To test the graphics capabilities of the device, we installed Sierra's FEAR and were pleasantly surprised. With an integrated processor we have to admit that expectations were low; but it played well and looked very nice.

If you're in the market for a laptop or notebook you could do much worse than the AMILO Pro. It's a stylish offering that integrates very nicely with the modern home computer users world. It's also Windows Vista ready, and now very competitively priced. A recommended purchase from those fine folk at Fujitsu-Siemens.

Published Specifications:

• Audio Output : Sound card 
  
• Battery : Lithium ion 
  
• Built-in Devices : Stereo speakers, wireless LAN antenna 
  
• Cache Memory : 2 MB - L2 cache 
  
• Dimensions (WxDxH) : 33.8 cm x 23.3 cm x 3.3 cm 
  
• Display : 14.1" TFT active matrix 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) 
  
• Graphics Controller : Intel GMA 950 
  
• Hard Drive : 60 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm 
  
• Input Device : Keyboard, touchpad 
  
• Localization : English / United Kingdom 
  
• Networking : Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g 
  
• Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional - English 
  
• Optical Storage : DVD±RW (+R DL) - integrated 
  
• Platform Technology : Intel Centrino Duo 
  
• Power : AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz ) 
  
• Processor : Intel Core Duo T2050 / 1.6 GHz ( Dual-Core ) 
  
• Product Description : Fujitsu Siemens AMILO Pro V3405 Edition - Core Duo T2050 1.6 GHz - 14.1" TFT 
  
• RAM : 512 MB DDR II SDRAM - 533 MHz 
  
• Run Time (Up To) : 4 hour(s) 
  
• System Type : Notebook 
  
• Telecom : Fax / modem - MDC - 56 Kbps 
  
• Weight : 2.4 kg 
  
• Wireless NIC : Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
  

Product Information

• Product Name: AMILO Pro v3405
• Price: £700
• Supplier: Fujitsu-Siemens
• Website: www.laptopshop.co.uk

Buyer's Workshop: The Challenge

The task, should you wish to take part, is to completely furnish a house using nothing other than eBay and a budget of; at most; £500. The intent is to track down the individual or couple who have made the most effective use of the eBay community when furnishing a home or appartment. The rules of the challenge are as follows:

• You need to purchase a item for every room in the house. Bedroom, Bathroom, Living Room, Kitchen - at least one item for each room.
  
• You should be able to live with only those items you’ve purchased. Obviously we’re not including food as a part of the challenge; that’s an extra you can buy once the challenge has been met.
  
• We need evidence of your purchases. We’ll need your eBay user ID to be able to track down exactly which items you’ve bought.. which sadly means that...
  
• Only recent purchases count. Sorry for anybody who furnished their flat a little while ago; we will find an alternative way to approach this in the future and hopefully we can include you then.
  

If you’re up to the challenge, email the editor at the usual eBay Advisor address giving full details of whom you are, where you’ve moved to and what you bought for each room in the house. Winner appears in print - deadline is 1st June; winner appearing in issue five.

Buyers Workshop: Valentines Gifts to Buy on eBay.... for yourself...

Hello Friends.
Wanna play a game?

SAW IV – EXTREME EDITION

AVAILABLE ON DVD AND BLU-RAY FROM MARCH 3, 2008

Saw IV takes London by storm

The most psychologically terrifying instalment of the hugely successful horror franchise has pulled out all the stops with the Saw IV Extreme Edition produced exclusively for DVD and Blu-Ray. This unmissable version, never screened at cinemas, will be available to buy from Monday 3 March, 2008, with more scares, more gore, more SAW than ever before!

YOU THOUGHT IT WAS OVER...

Plus, hard-core fans can watch all the gory moments in dazzling picture quality and sound with Saw IV Extreme Edition on Blu-ray disc. Filled with special features, the disc also includes the world’s first interactive Blu-ray disc movie blog, allowing users to create and share their own added content.

BUT THE GAMES HAVE JUST BEGUN.

Upon the news of Detective Kerry's murder, two seasoned FBI profilers, Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) and Agent Perez (Athena Karkanis), arrive at the depleted police precinct and help veteran Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) sift through Jigsaw's latest grizzly game of victims and piece together the puzzle. However, when SWAT Commander Rigg (Lyriq Bent), the last officer untouched by Jigsaw (Tobin Bell), is suddenly abducted and thrust into the madman's harrowing game, the officer has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of interconnected traps...or face the deadly consequences. Rigg's citywide pursuit leaves a wake of dead bodies, and Detective Hoffman and the FBI uncover long hidden clues that lead them back to Jigsaw's ex-wife Jill (Betsy Russell).

The clock is ticking.... Availability is limited.

The desire to purchase factor is increased with exclusive packaging and box sets to accompany this extreme edition. Saw IV is packaged in a brilliant limited motorised collectable sleeve with sound chip, plus an exclusive Saw comic and loads of extras. The Saw Quadrilogy is also released to coincide with Saw IV and is packaged in a Collectable Limited Edition moulded face box set. The eagerly awaited SAW III Director’s Cut will also be available on 3rd March, making “Saw” unmissable in store this spring.

Following the fainting suffered from SAW III, this release has been issued with a warning from Matt Ware, Head of Communications for the East of England Ambulance Service, saying that viewers should be aware of the shock of the images on the big screen advising them to check out the previous three instalments on DVD first so they have an idea of what they’ll be seeing.

SAW IV – Extreme Edition will be available on DVD from Monday 3 March for £19.99; with the moulded box set at £29.99. Of appeal to eBay Advisor readers is the moulded box set - if it's a truly limited edition, it will be worth a decent sum of money very soon. Takes a gamble, it's all upto you.

Opinion: eBay We Love You

People love eBay - but things are not always that straightforward

People love eBay. In the UK it accounts for 11% of all internet surfing and the average eBay member spends 2 hours on the site every month. Worldwide the company has built an impressive community of 233 million members in 37 countries

However, there have recently been rumblings of discontent in the eBay community. Sellers have been complaining of high fees, low sales and bad customer service. There was even a (tiny) seller strike in August 2006 over the change in eBay shop listing fees. Amongst many eBayers there is a feeling that it is not looking after its members. Most worryingly for eBay, the company’s growth has slowed

So what has eBay done to strengthen its community and boost sales? Like everyone it has been jumping on the Web 2.0 bandwagon. Web 2.0 refers to web based applications which encourage people interact and collaborate online. Recently the company launched eBay neighbourhoods where people with similar interests can get together and discuss items as varied as coffee machines and diecast toy cars. It has also launched blog widgets and a Facebook application both of which allow users to promote their products across the internet. eBay is clearly hoping that these new Web 2.0 style applications will encourage people both on and off eBay to spend more time discussing eBay items and trading. As well as new applications, eBay has also been revamping its website to make it easier to use

I have been impressed with how the company has recently responded to criticism and made efforts to improve its service. People love to whinge, but there is no evidence of a mass exodus to other auction sites. It remains a great place for both individuals and businesses to trade online and reach a huge international audience. Most importantly, eBay is still fun and a place to interact with interesting and varied people.

So what does the future hold for eBay? Many industry experts think that it should merge with another big online player such as Yahoo or Microsoft. There are also rumours of a takeover of UK based online auction site QXL, which will enable eBay to get a foothold in the booming economies of Eastern Europe. Whatever happens, eBay is still very much a force to be reckoned with.

Buyer's Workshop: Angelina Jolie Movies

Often described as the sexiest woman in the world, Angelina Jolie may have met her match in Brad Pitt. Rumours about the pair started during the filming of Mr and Mrs Smith in which they play a married couple. Taken from our sister magazine Movie Insider we have an interview with Angelina Jolie, and a selection of eBay searches for her most popular movies.

Movie Insider: Tell us about Mr & Mrs Smith
Angelina Jolie: Well, we’re a suburban married couple who’ve been married for about six months and we’re very unhappy so we’re going to couples’ therapy and then we discover that we’re both hit-men and we have to kill each other! It’s actually very light and bizarre.

Movie Insider: What drew you to the role? Was it a fabulous script or Brad Pitt?
Angelina Jolie: I thought it was such a fun read and if there was ever a comedy, someone said to me, a girlfriend of mine who read it, she said, ‘If there was ever a comedy, this is the kind of comedy that you could do,’ because she’s got a lot of darker elements and her humor and silliness and her personality actually suit me even though it’s a comedy. I was talking to Brad about it and he felt that I could do it. He had the confidence that I could do this, and I kept thinking that I wasn’t really funny. It’s a bit of everything. It’s like a dark comedy because of the amount of time that we spend on huge stunt scenes and big action things and preparation for [using] spy equipment.

Movie Insider: How did you deal with all the paparazzi following you on this film? What’s your secret?
Angelina Jolie: It was no different than any other film. Paparazzi always come out to location to shoot. My secret is having families and people we love - things that are important to us – that put it all in perspective.

Movie Insider: In the film you pretend not to be skilled. In real life do you also pretend to be less able to make those around you feel more comfortable?
Angelina Jolie: I think, at times, we all do that to be more comfortable, and to blend in. But I don’t think it’s good. I think we should be everything we can be.

Movie Insider: What do you do when you’re in the papers and there are lies every day?
Angelina Jolie: The thing is, I tend to not read the papers and I don’t watch those TV shows. So, I never see it.

Movie Insider: What do you look for in a man?
Angelina Jolie: I mean I could say I’m looking for a good father for Mad, but you have to find someone with the same values and the same approach to life and family as I do. I have to look for the best father in the world.

Movie Insider: Is London home?
Angelina Jolie: England, yeah.

Movie Insider: Do you feel at home in Cambodia too?
Angelina Jolie: Yeah, I do. It’s just full of lovely people and it’s my son’s country and they know him there. We have a small place there, where we live, that is basically a part of the jungle that has been cleared of mines and has these three little houses built on stilts, and most of our furniture is bamboo. We have to helicopter in or take a day’s trip. So, I do know my neighbors and they’ve known me for a couple years because I did aid work and came down and spent time with them so that they would know us.

Movie Insider: Why did you decide to use your fame to help land mine victims in Cambodia?
Angelina Jolie: Before I went to Cambodia, for Tomb Raider, I didn’t know much about land mines, so I was shocked by what I saw and found out. Being there made me decide to learn more about issues like that and to see what I could do to help. So, when I got back from Cambodia, I contacted the UN and asked them if I could do anything for them, to highlight the problem. Since then I’ve been to Sierra Leone and Tanzania. Next I’m going back to Cambodia to help out and show my support. I’m also trying to raise awareness of the problem by keeping a journal of all my travels and what I see which is going to be released on the United Nations Website. Being able to do something like that is one of the best things about being well-known.

Movie Insider: How’s the U.N. work going?
Angelina Jolie: Really good. I’m just continuing with it and I’m just focusing now on trips that I can take to Washington and statements to make and people to meet. I just try to read a lot and support and learn from wherever I am.

Movie Insider: Do you find that people are receiptive to you in Washington?
Angelina Jolie: The nice thing is when I first went there, I had to earn it – actually I’m still earning it. On my first trip, they had no idea what to expect and kind of what I was exactly there to say, but then, after a few meetings, the next time I came back, the senators that I tried to meet with the first time allowed me to come in the second time. The, the third time, I was invited by a senator to speak and meet with other senators, and now, I’m going with the documentary that I did about trading women and talking about the sex trade in Africa. It was done by David Finebill, but we’re going to have a big discussion about it and a big meeting and a lot of people are coming out and then, while I’m there, I’ll talk some more.

Movie Insider: How has it affected your acting?
Angelina Jolie: Yeah, it’s changed everything because any deep personal experience makes you a better actress. Acting is a great thing, but there are deeper things. Doing something like this makes me feel - as a woman, as a mom – of greater use.

Movie Insider: How do you have time to do this - and why do it?
Angelina Jolie: It’s just that I became aware of it and found myself worrying about these areas. I feel blessed that I met these people who are surviving and that I can understand the world that I live in. but I’m just so frustrated because I see so much damage, and there’s not enough I can do about it…

Movie Insider: Do you feel like you have two careers now?
Angelina Jolie: Yeah, I think that I’ve become first and foremost a mom and citizen of the world and somewhere also, for fun, I love being an actor and do that.

Buy now... - DVD - UMD - Blu-Ray

Movie Insider: How do you feel about your movie career at this point?
Angelina Jolie: I don’t know. I don’t take it all that seriously. If you’re at the top of your game, then you’re just getting the chance to do things – you’re able to keep working. I’m sure that I’ll be able to get a job doing something that I like, some character in something whether it’s in the biggest box office thing of the year or not. So, that’s not really a concern of mine.

Movie Insider: Is acting just a way to earn money, then?
Angelina Jolie: No, acting’s not just a career to me. It’s also been a way of coping with everyday life and letting me communicate things that I couldn’t otherwise have done. At times, I’ve really been comforted by films. When I’m sad, or feeling low, I know that if I can turn on something and laugh, it’ll help me. That’s why I’d wanted to do this, why I like comedy – I thought it’d be nice to be able to do that for other people too.

Movie Insider: As an actress, do you need to be pushed?
Angelina Jolie: Yeah, as a person and as an actor, absolutely. It’s a wonderful part of my job to be that much more connected to whatever is going on inside of me. Some people have pain and things that they never get to address, and I make a living addressing them!

Movie Insider: When did you realise you were a grown up?
Angelina Jolie: I think when I looked down at my hands and they were washing a baby, washing Maddox! I look at my hands getting older and I love it, because I can see the changes happening.

Movie Insider: How would you describe your style?
Angelina Jolie: I kind of like doing ‘simple.’

Movie Insider: What do you wear when you’re not on your U.N. trips or in Cambodia?
Angelina Jolie: I probably wear the same thing in Cambodia that I do in the city. I wear jeans, khaki pants and t-shirts.

Movie Insider: Don’t you wear dresses?
Angelina Jolie: Not usually because if I’m running around with Maddox I can’t really be in heels or dresses. So, I just kind of go for practical.

Movie Insider: Do you have a favourite movie?
Angelina Jolie: I don’t really watch movies. I don’t watch a lot of movies myself.

Movie Insider: Does your son?
Angelina Jolie: He watches Noggin a bit, it’s a TV show - a channel. He really likes JJ the Jet Plane, if he watches. He loves airplanes. He’s very into things that talk, you know, Dora the Explorer.

Movie Insider: Is it getting easier now to juggle work and motherhood?
Angelina Jolie: That just sounds so funny! I’m really a mom, first and foremost and that’s how I’m going to be all my life. But I’m just lucky that I’m able to do a job where I can take him to work with me – take him on set - because that’s something not a lot of people can do.

Movie Insider: How has motherhood changed you?
Angelina Jolie: It’s made me a more playful person; it’s made me a much more peaceful person. There’s a lot going on but as long as he’s healthy, there’s nothing else to shake me - I don’t stress about things that don’t matter.

Movie Insider: You’ve talked recently about your lesbian experiences. What would you think if your son grew up bisexual? Would it make it harder on him?
Angelina Jolie: Of course not, no. I don’t know, I think what’s harder is not admitting to who you are. I’d just be so excited about him being confident about what he was and who he was and what he wanted to be.

Movie Insider: What’s been the toughest time in your life?
Angelina Jolie: Tough times kind of came with good times, but I guess the toughest time was around the time I adopted Maddox, because my marriage broke up and I divided from my father, all within a short time. It was a very emotional time, so I just threw myself into motherhood. That was one of the toughest times in my life, when my marriage broke up [to actor Billy Bob Thornton] and I separated from my father, but then good things happened too, and I guess good comes with the bad always, but it seems like big things happen in your life at the same time. It was hard then to keep from crying in front of my son, I didn’t want him to see me cry. My mother says her biggest problem with the kids is that she cried in front of us too much.

Movie Insider: Do you think you’d ever write a kiss-and-tell book?
Angelina Jolie: Oh gosh no, there’s so much out there, I’m so open, I think any of you could go out there and find all the snippets of my life and write a book yourselves, I’ll leave that to you.

Movie Insider: Do you think you’ll ever reconcile with your father?
Angelina Jolie: No, that won’t happen. I don’t see any reconciliation with my father ever, no. There’s only so much energy in this life, I don’t want him to make my stomach go into knots anymore. You can’t have that.

Movie Insider: What about Maddox and his Grandfather?
Angelina Jolie: I don’t want to worry about my son having problems with him as he grows up. I don’t hate [my father], I just can’t have that negative energy in my life. We don’t understand each other. I don’t have anything against him, but I don’t want to be around him.

Mr & Mrs Smith is available to rent and buy on DVD, UMD and Blu-Ray.

Magazines: PC Explorer presents eBay Secrets, Strategies and Solutions

eBay Advisor is not the only magazine for eBay users. PC Explorer publishes occasional specials. Below is a description of issue 56, still available from Magnesium Media's online store MoreMags.com.

eBay is one of the true Internet success stories, and its popularity shows no signs of diminishing. The auction site has been built up from scratch since its launch in 1995, enabling any user to buy and sell goods over the Internet — all you need is a browser and a connection to the Web. Whether you want to earn some cash from your unwanted junk, are interested in setting up your own business, or want to pick up top quality items at the lowest possible price, eBay has something to offer. In this issue of PC Explorer we'll be guiding you step-by-step through the millions of pages that make up eBay and its related sites.

For buyers, we've got guides to tracking down the best deals, ensuring that your bid is the winning one, and tips for finding auctions that others might miss. If you're primarily interested in selling, then you can find out how to maximise your profits, add some impact to your listings, and make the step from casual seller to serious trader. From official eBay policy to insider hacks and secrets, everything you need to know about eBay is contained in the following features.

We've looked in detail at the ins and outs of eBay Shops, eBay Motors, and the new eBay Express, which operates like a standard online shopping site. Looking beyond the boundaries of eBay, you'll find features on the VoIP client Skype (which you can use to contact other traders) and alternative auction sites.

This issue of PC Explorer is available at £5.99 through MoreMags at this link.

Selling: Shopping at eBay Express

If you want to buy an item for a fixed price rather than bidding on it, eBay’s online store could be just what you’re looking for.

Whatever you’re looking to buy, you’ll probably find it on eBay. If it’s legal and available, someone, somewhere will be offering it for sale and while the site’s reputation might be for second hand goods, there are plenty of brand new items available to purchase. And often at a bargain price too. Take Casino Royale on DVD for example. This costs £14.99 (inc postage) at Play.com, and £14.72 at Amazon, yet eBay will let you Buy It Now from a choice of sellers from just £11, delivered. With major savings to be had, it’s perhaps surprising that eBay hasn’t had more of an impact on sales from traditional online stores.

The reason for this of course, is the site’s reputation. As eBay itself has long since realised, a broad swathe of the buying public view eBay as nothing more than a glorified car boot sale. Ideal for selling items you no longer want or picking up a used pushchair or a collectible from the past, but not somewhere you’d think of shopping for the latest products. A brand new iPod purchased from eBay might be identical in every way from one purchased online from Dixons – just cheaper – but tell a non-eBayer where you got it from and there’s a good chance they’ll be thinking there’s something wrong with it; that it’s a fake or that it’s second hand.

eBay Express (www.express.ebay.co.uk) is eBay’s attempt to appeal to shoppers who might have been put off by the auction site’s reputation and also by reoccurring news stories concerning scams and counterfeit or nonexistent goods. The new site has some things in common with eBay, but in other ways, it’s entirely different. For starters, not everyone can sell products on Express – only established eBayers with a business account and at least a 98% positive feedback rating are allowed to trade on the site. There’s no bidding, everything is offered at a fixed price (and fully inclusive of postage and packing) and only brand new goods are accepted.

eBay Express is home to the same broad range of content you’d find on the main eBay site but its design has been carefully crafted to make it more accessible. You can search for goods or browse through the different categories using the bar at the top of the screen. Each category is broken down into a range of subcategories, so you can quickly navigate through them all to locate what you’re looking for.

When you find something you like, you simply add it to your basket and keep shopping. Your basket can store items from multiple merchants and you pay for everything in one go, when you’re ready. Goods are all covered by a minimum seven working days returns policy and if you send something back and the seller doesn’t refund you, you can complain directly to eBay and get your money back from them.

Unlike Amazon, Play.com or other rival sites, Express’s goods aren’t kept on sale indefinitely, but they are available for 30 or 90 days at a time. This makes it easier for sellers to retail multiple items without needing to keep relisting them every few days or so as they are currently forced to do on eBay.

eBay Express definitely shows promise, but it’s very early days for the site which was only launched over here six months ago (following earlier launches in America and Germany). Although there are just under 800,000 items for sale across fourteen different categories, hunting for specific products quickly makes you realise the depth of choice is seriously lacking when compared with the likes of eBay, with its 25 million items, and other specialist stores.

There are bargains to be had (Casino Royale is £11.49 here), but it’s mostly more expensive than eBay, and competes with, rather than undercuts, most online shops. It also doesn’t do a particular good job of promoting new goods. Instead of the DVD categories page opening with the latest blockbuster releases, you’re presented with the likes of the A-Team, Carry on Dick, and Battlefield – Air War Over Germany.

That said, you’ve only got to look at the American site (www.express.ebay.com) to see what the future could be like for eBay Express here. It has loads more categories, millions of items and the focus is on the very latest products, not just unused ones. The UK version of the site might not be fantastic at the moment, but it has a bright future and is definitely worth a browse.

This was published in issue three of eBay Advisor, and was written by Wayne Williams. We'll take a further look at it in issue five of eBay Advisor.

Buyers Workshop: How to have a baby on eBay

Having a baby can be an expensive occurance, but worth every penny. With help from Wiz Wharton's book, you may save rather a lot of money.

Research shows that in the first year alone, parents can expect to splash out over £7,000 on their little one. When Wiz Wharton found out she was pregnant in 2005, she was living in rented accommodation in London with no regular income. Determined to provide her baby with everything he might need, but knowing she’d have to do it at a fraction of the normal cost, she found her solution on eBay - the world’s largest online auction site. 

With the sort of military precision only reserved for the truly obsessed or the truly pregnant, Wiz compiled a file of everything she was going to need; from maternity wear, to nursery equipment, via sterilisers, nappies and toys. What she discovered was that with a little bit of research, some streetwise bidding tactics, and patience, you can pick up all you need in next-to-new condition for far less than normal retail prices:

“I eventually managed to buy all of my son’s items from 0 to way beyond 3, including all my maternity items, for about £500,” she writes.

Some of Wiz’s online triumphs have included:

• A £200 cot for £11.50 
  
• A £400 designer buggy for £200 
  
• A £175 one-off maternity dress for £15. 
  

All brand new, boxed and delivered! In this unique book, Wiz tells other mums-to-be and their partners how to save themselves literally thousands of pounds by doing what she did, and have fun in the process. The first part of the book reproduces and builds upon her own detailed product research, telling parents what equipment they are going to need and - just as importantly - what they won’t . The eighteen Buyer’s Guides are the most comprehensive and up-to-date research of their kind, and invaluable for parents lost in the confusion of what to buy, when and for how much.

The second part of the book offers a detailed explanation of how eBay works, with step-by-step instructions for readers new to the site, plus advanced tips and tricks for those who already have some experience. With humour and insight, Wiz reveals the mistakes she made, and shows how her techniques improved to the point where she could be confident of winning items that had previously eluded her. Basic errors are highlighted, myths exposed, and golden rules stressed. There is even a highly important section on how to avoid the much-publicised eBay scams.

The final section of the book instructs parents in the ‘selling’ side of eBay. Wiz tells you how to turn the products that you have bought back into hard cash by selling them on eBay. Threaded through the narrative is her desire not only to help other parents achieve what she did, but also to encourage the principles of recycling

Whether you’re a mother-to-be, anxious father, or just know someone who is soon to give birth, ‘How to Have a Baby on eBay’ is an invaluable, money-saving, planet-friendly guide for the modern age and a must-read for parents everywhere.

About this book:

• Product Info: How to Have a Baby on eBay by Wiz Wharton
• Pages: 352 
  
• Published: 16th April 2007 
  
• RRP: £12.99
  

Visit the website at www.harriman-house.com

True Life Stories: Wayne Williams

Writing about eBay led to Wayne Williams becoming hooked. He has since authored numerous articles on getting the most from the site, and still trades on a regular basis.

Most people’s first visit to eBay is to sell something, find a rare item or bag a bargain. For Journalist Wayne Williams it was purely for research. Tasked to write a feature for a magazine, he made his initial foray onto the site to find out what the fuss was all about. He had no intention of bidding on any auctions or putting any of his own goods up for sale. eBay simply wasn’t for him.

That was over seven years ago, when the site first launched, and he has been buying and selling on it ever since.

He has also written countless articles on making (and saving) money using eBay, all based on his own experiences and from chatting to various full-time eBayers - including for eBay Advisor magazine. We begin with the standard eBay Advisor questions.

How did you get started on eBay?
I had to write an article on it for a magazine. I was aware of the site but I’d never spent any real time on it. It just didn’t appeal to me. I had no real interest in second-hand junk, which is what I mistakenly thought it was entirely about at the time. I signed up, had a look around to familiarise myself with what it had to offer, placed some trial bids and… I was addicted! I went from non-believer to eBay zealot in a matter of hours.

What was your first buying experience like?
The first few bids I’d made were for the article. I placed them early and knew they’d be quickly outbid. The first real bid I made was for a Canon SLR 35mm camera. I left it as late as I dared and went in with a really high bid. My heart was pounding as I entered the amount. The final few seconds of the auction seemed to crawl by but when it was all over, I was the winner! I sent off a cheque (this was pre-PayPal time) and waited anxiously for the item. The seller was superb though – he included some free extras, such as filters and a camera case, and sent me some links to user groups for the camera. He even emailed me a few months after the auction to see how I was getting on!

First item sold
A Matrix DVD I won in a competition. I’d already purchased a copy a few weeks earlier. It went for about £1 more than I’d paid for my one, so I made a profit. My listing wasn’t great – I just copied the blurb and picture from Amazon. I had no idea how much postage was either. I just took a random guess, which turned out to be spot on.

What was your best eBay experience?
I love winning auctions. It’s a real thrill. Although making a big profit from selling something I’ve bought for a few pounds from a second-hand shop or a car boot sale is a fantastic feeling. My wife’s parents collect antiques and so give us lots of great tips on what to watch out for. Buying items cheap on eBay, putting them back up with an improved listing and making a tidy profit is incredibly satisfying too.

And your worst?
I often leave my bidding to the final seconds, and I’ve lost auctions due to my computer slowing down. I’ve got a very fast PC and a monster internet connection, but it still happens. It’s like eBay does it on purpose! And on one occasion I purchased a really expensive zoom lens for £20. It was a fantastic bargain. The sender posted it off but it never arrived. Some investigation uncovered the fact that it had been stolen from the delivery van. I couldn’t believe it. I got my money back, but had to pay a lot more for the same make of lens.

I’ve only had one piece of negative feedback, and that was from someone who complained they hadn’t received the item. They posted bad feedback without warning on the same day I received their cheque!

What advice would you give to a new user?
Enjoy yourself. Take time to become familiar with the site and if buying make sure you know how cheaply you could get an item for elsewhere. So many people pay over the odds simply because they haven’t done any research. Or because they get carried away when bidding, which is easily done.

It’s also essential to use common sense. I’ve never really had any problems simply because I’m very wary of both buyers and sellers. Check someone’s feedback and view goods being sold too cheaply with suspicion. They are probably fake. Don’t send out goods you’ve sold until the money is in your hands!

Any tips for eBay success?
When bidding always leave it until the last minute. There really is no point in placing a bid early on – it’s pretty much guaranteed to be beaten and all you’re doing is pushing the price up. I generally bid with around 20 seconds to go, and enter the maximum amount I’m prepared to pay. If it’s not enough, it’s too late to do anything about it – which prevents me from overbidding for something. Bid earlier if your internet connection is running slowly though.

For sellers I would say always size up the competition. Look to see how many copies of the same item are being offered by other eBayers and use these rival auctions as a benchmark. Compare products. Is yours exactly the same, newer, older, in better or worse condition etc.? Undercutting someone may get your item sold quicker, but it also means you’ll make less money.

Concentrate on presentation and time your auctions for a Sunday evening finish – this is when most eBayers go online so there will be more potential bidders around.

This piece was published in eBay Advisor issue 3.