Just been given a new IBM laptop for the job I’m starting in a few weeks.

No grumbles at all about its performance or spec, but I do have an issue with the keyboard!

What a stupid place to put the Function (Fn) key. EVERY other keyboard has the Control (Ctrl) button at the extreme bottom left of the keyboard, and I’ve just realised how often I use it - or in the case of the IBM laptop, how often I try and use it and hit the Fn key instead…

A quick Ctrl+C to copy some text, and then Ctrl+V to paste it…only to realise that I have actually been pressing Fn+C, so I didn’t copy anything in the first place.

What is the logic behind the keyboard layout? Same goes for the lack of the Winkey, which I also use a fair bit. I suspect this is some sort of statement by IBM to Microsoft - but it’s annoying. I’ve had to map other key combinations to take place of the missing Winkey.

IBM - sort it out. Please.

Although many poker books are well-written, and contain valuable information, they are not always focused on what you want to read and learn. Many cover a range of games (Holdem, Omaha, Stud, etc.), and usually cover the different variations of these games; namely limit, pot limit and no limit. Finally, there is also the difference between play in a cash game and that in a tournament. There are times you want to focus on one particular game, and you also want the advice and play to be relevant to the level of the games you're playing.

Low-stakes No-Limit Holdem Cash Games

Most of the poker I play is No-Limit Holdem. Although I play the occasional tournament, the majority of the time I focus on cash games. There are many books that explain the fundamental principles of playing Holdem. Many cover Limit games, or share the focus over Limit, Pot Limit and No Limit. Others assume that the game is being played at high-stakes, and don't include advice on playing at lower stakes, and the sort of play you will encounter. That's where this book comes in… (more…)

The perfect way to send a soon-to-be-groom on his way!

I have just returned from a fantastic Stag-do in Sunny Woolacombe. Martin Horrill (aka Jimmer) will shortly be married to the lovely Kate, and so to wish him well a troop of brave souls accompanied him on a weekend of what 30-something lads do best - drinking alot, talking rubbish, and throwing ourselves off cliffs.

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Too many rock band websites focus on gimmicks, unecessary Flash animations, unintuitve menus, huge dark moody graphics that take an age to download - even on a decent connection.

Now I understand they have an ‘image’ to maintain, and they’re not a dull blue-chip organisation. But come on fellas.

Fans come to sites to find out about new albums and singles, latest tour dates, see what the band is up to, etc. Maybe download some video or images from a recent gig. Whilst doing that, I’m sure some nice design is more than welcome, but not when it gets in the way of what the visitor is after.

Accessibility and usability are thrown out of the window more often than not. In fact, to say they are thrown out of the window probably suggests that they were even considered in the first place.

I’ve picked out two band’s and their respective websites, to show how it can be done.

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