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

weell, think more to do with modem speeds, dont think acess was much of a problem, as was on 24-7 with windows three, wasn't till 2000 that I got 98...slow modems put the bill up a bit, but even in 2000 you had free internet access with some firms like virgin ect

>> When did you Brits finally get unlimited internet access?

Oh, interesting question.

Freeserve was the first free ISP and it very slightly predated the site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeserve

There were two issues, the first being charges by the ISP, and as ltp says, the second being the cost of the phone calls.

Also, ISDN and Broadband rolled out very patchily. I couldn't get cable (ie Broadband) in the flat where I lived from 2002-2005 because I lived at the wrong end of the road. I still can't get cable, but I can get Broadband.

Other Salonistas' mileage may vary.

Ben

Must admit I love my fiber connection

6D was my first conversation. I'd have thought it was an earlier one - then I saw it was 2004. That is a wee while ago...

I think that my first post in the Salon had to do with getting DSL. I can't really remember though. Some posts may be lost to moderation from back in the early BBC days.

Oh, the Masque - I'd forgotten about that. Just read most of the thread. What a great idea that was. And I'm laughing all over again at Lil's "wriggles and giggles".

*People slowly become aware that a piano has been playing old romantic songs quietly in the background for some time*

*Those who've turned to look have thought that maybe they recognise the piano player, but haven't quite been able to put a face to the name*

*But now they are aware that Greensleeves is standing by the piano humming gently*

*She's wearing an emerald green day dress from the 1940s: http://alanasvintage.com/images/Sewing_Patterns/advance5414.jpg but the hat and gloves have of course been dropped, or lost, or left at the door*

"Play it" she says, "Play it" *and a familiar tune wafts across the party area, Greensleeves is just one of the many people who have sung this song over the years* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d22CiKMPpaY *

[This day and age we're living in
Gives cause for apprehension
With speed and new invention
And things like fourth dimension.
Yet we get a trifle weary
With Mr. Einstein's theory.
So we must get down to earth at times
Relax relieve the tension

And no matter what the progress
Or what may yet be proved
The simple facts of life are such
They cannot be removed.]

You must remember this
The net is just the net, and friendship's so close by,
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by.

And when the question's "Goo?"
The answer's "42"
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by.

Friendship and laughter,
Never out of date.
Care and compassion
Lonliness negate.
Kindness on the web
is friendship's newest state.
That no one can deny.

And the Salonistas' story
Has proved so very more-y
A case of laugh and cry
And Lil's will always welcome wierdos
As time goes by.

Oh yes, at Lil's we welcome lovely wierdos
As time goes by.

Bravo!

Wonderful!

for Greensleeves.
Thanks Phil. I spent most of the time at the Aroma Cafe. 2000 Irv went off and Lil had enough? time to keep the cafe open through the summer. Pain du chocolate and mbougatses were the food of choice and migrated from one location to the other courtesy of Lil.
My connection back then was on a 56k modem through a small London company. I hadn't wanted to use my real name for email, which was the birth of the Eatsmice moniker. That was in '96. We had 5 . Who all eat mice. 486DX100 with 25mb Hdd and windoze 3.11
Simul posts were common, as we all struggled against the servers. "did it post or not?", Click! "bugger".

I found the post where I became a Dad. Phil and co sent congrats and Ti linked to a fatherhood cartoon.

*who can now iSantra from the bath*

*deletes simul posting and inserts double posting. *

"Do not press this button again"

Bravo Greensleeves!

Eats, the Aroma Cafe was one of the busiest places on h2g2 island: when I was caretaking, we had a thread per day. An old style 4-led thread.

Greensleeves

*has a - third? who counts?? - G&T from a silver platter going past*

Well done Greensleeves!

Marvellous, Greensleeves! I found me ... http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F38024?thread=558481&skip=320&show=20 Post 334. It was bizarre, I thought I'd arrived in Jan 05, but whipped through the threads from the previous November because I wasn't sure when they'd end, and kept thinking, but I remember *that* ... ... and then I remembered I did an awful lot of lurking before I joined in Mol

Greensleeves, what a lovely sentiment! I'm so glad to be one of the weirdos who stopped in and decided to stick around.

PS: as a former er I highly recommend that other lurkers posts, even a simple "Hi!" so we can meet & greet. Come on in!

Oh. I don't know, V -- our lurkers are proud professionals. I bet they have a union.

That's be a secret union, with secret ballots.