h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My gran want me to take her telly shopping tomorrow, and she won't take no for an answer.

*Bashes head repeatedly on desk*

So much for my daytrip to Sheffield

Sorry Footy, looks like you'll either have to wait or get that friend of a friend of a friend to sort it like you were going to.

Even though you've got a prior engagement? That's not fair

Can't you take her to Sheffield to go television shopping?

My gran is an oddity, and it's best to keep her onside. Family politics eh. If I ever go like that you've got my permission to have me shot.

*makes note to shoot as requested

Ok that's it. Not only do I give up my time against my will, but my sole reason for being there is completely ignored. She got a telly yes, but decided to go against my advice.

My advice:
Go Japanese. They're more reliable for the same money these days (Sony, Panasonic, etc)
Go 16:9 widescreen over 4:3 (square) screen every time. Since almost all telly these days is shown in widescreen, a 28" widescreen shows more than a 21" 4:3 screen, and comes in a smaller box. There's also very little difference in terms of price.
Avoid combo units (built in VCR/DVD/Both) like the plague. If something goes wrong with any bit of it, you've got to replace it all in one go rather than a bit at a time.
If it comes with integrated digital tuner, all the better as with the analogue signal being switched off in a few years it'll be one less cost and remote control to deal with.

The TV I found her: Panasonic TX28DTX1C 28" Widescreen with integrated freeview. On one day only special offer price of £250.

The TV she went for: Bush BTV213DVD 21" 4:3 screen with built in DVD and VCR. Same price as the one that I found.

*Bashes head on desk*

Why do I bother?!? I dispair I really do I wouldn't mind but it's not like she has any videos or DVDs to use on the thing. Waste of ing money if you ask me.

And Bush!?! Who in their right mind these days would buy British?!?

that was a good price for that 28 inch and bush? bush? bush?! I'll join you in disparing *gnashes teeth * Bush?! Bush?!

Family politics?!?

I'm glad I don't order my kids about like that.

She doesn't mean to (at least I think that's the case), she just doesn't know any better. She's always been like this I gather. She still treats my mum like she's a 4 year old who can't make a decision for herself sometimes I would go into more detail but I think it's best I don't.

Grannies, ey? Don't worry about it Croz. I got a Ken Dodd alike to take a look at it yesterday I think I must have confused computer tech with eighties compere, the jokes he was coming out with

He had to take it away to the comedy workshop, I mean computer workshop, anyway… My computer is poorly

Did the o give any idea as to what was up with it? Hope it's sorted soon. If it's not fixable, Aldi have got their mad computer offer on again this Thursday

I should have hidden my Peter Kay mouse mat, I couldn't stop him from repeating his jokes

He checked the power supply, that was fine. Said the CPU might be overheating but didn't think that was the main cause of the problem. He didn't think there was anything wrong with the hard drive (thank Bob, I've got about 5 years worth of rubbish on there...) Then he tried removing the memory things (?) he took one out and nothing happened, then when he took the second out nothing happened again, but he said it should have started beeping. So he said he thought it was the main board that was dodgy. He's going to run some tests on it and see if that turns anything up, oh and he's going to copy the rammel off my hard drive, which was good of him

Yeah the motherboard should make a number of beeps if there's no memory in there, so if it doesn't then it's a surefire sign of a dead or slowly dying motherboard. Happened to the 'rents 4 1/2 year old PC last month, worked out cheaper to get them a newish one from a computer fair.

Mmmmm new computer

You shouldn't get my hopes up like taht I'm probably going to end up in Dixons at dinner then I'll get a phone call from Kenn Dodd saying that it's just a blown fuse

http://uk.aldi.com/special_buys/product_171.html

Chances are it'll be a very large paperweight as he'll cause a static discharge on the motherboard with his tickling stick