echoechoecho

Thanks for the replies. I'm considering wiping my old laptop and installing Linux Ubuntu or Mint on it, so I will see about upgrading the ram and hard drive at the same time. The main problem with it is the battery life - even from new it only ran for a few hours on a full charge, but now I get maybe 45 minutes before it needs to be plugged in. The Makita USB adaptor can charge my phone about 4 times from a 5ah battery. The output is 2.1A / 5v, so if that's too low for a laptop then I will have to look into alternatives for keeping the laptop charged when away from the office - either an 12v-230v inverter in the van, or one of the cheaper Ecoflow power packs.

My work laptop is finally on its way out so I need a replacement soon. I know enough about computers to get by, but it's been about 8 years since I last bought a laptop and things have moved on a lot so I don't really know what I should be looking for. I'm not too bothered which brand but I'd prefer to avoid obscure Chinese manufacturers, even if their laptops are good value. Graphics card, screen resolution, touchscreen not important. Needs to be running Windows, minimum 250gb SSD, and good battery life. My budget is up to £500. If at all possible, I'd like to be able to charge it from my Makita 18v usb adaptor as I sometimes take the laptop away with me for work. I've had a look in Currys but it seems only the £800 + laptops have the ability to charge through the USB type C ports. Any suggestions?

Not sure about Stihl Motomix, but the Husqvarna 5l cans of alkylate fuel are compatible with Aspen nozzles, so they both have the same cap thread.

And the charities set up in war zones and developing countries seem to have a higher-than-average percentage of paedos working for them, trading food for favours with the desperate population.

I worked as a same-day courier when I was 18/19 (owner driver). One time I had a job to collect a "full van load" from a Save The Children office in Bristol and deliver to a hotel in London asap. I arrived, a woman pointed out the load - 3 rolled-up posters, a laptop bag and a folding display stand - and said she would personally meet me at the delivery point. As I was loading the van she climbed into a very new Audi estate. This job, like most of my jobs, was subbed to me. The larger the client the more companies involved, all making a tidy profit. I charged something like £140, so by the time the three or four companies who passed down the work added on their commission, this 2.5 hour journey might have cost the charity four or five hundred, possibly more; all paid with £2 per month donations from the naive public. The load would easily have fit into the boot of her car, if she could be bothered. NHS, BBC, and charities were by far the most unnecessarily wasteful I worked for, with decisions made by feckless, incompetant administrators who knew there was no accountability - no matter what they did their jobs were secure.

30 degrees is more than I expected for such a short machine.

How are these machines on steep slopes, and will they dig up a lawn, even on turf tyres?

I bought it last summer from Jenkins Garden Machinery. I'm only on my 4th can of Aspen since then, so the spout hasn't had a lot of use really. I've sent you a PM. Thanks for the gesture, it's much appreciated!

It looks like they use a standard thread, though I tried a spout from another can and it didn't form a seal when screwed on. I'll dig around in the shed.

My flexible Aspen spout has split. Nowhere local sells replacements and I begrudge spending £5-7 postage on a £4 spout from an online shop. Do spouts made by any other manufacturers fit the 5 litre Aspen cans?

Just seen your post - she's doing graphic design. If you know what design software she'll use, you can find the recommended specs needed to run it.

I bought an A grade refurbished HP Elitebook laptop six years ago from Tier1Online for under £300 inc. VAT. They build the laptop to your specifications. If your daughter plays games or uses design software then you would need a laptop with decent graphics. Otherwise for general word processing and internet browsing I personally don't see the point in spending a lot. Laptops have moved on since I bought mine, so minimum 8GB RAM and a 500GB SSD hard drive wouldn't cost too much. Refurbished laptops and notebooks from Tier1online.com, we supply second user high quality laptops to the UK. WWW.TIER1ONLINE.COM

For pallets, a jig saw with a coarse blade would be better. Blades are cheap; they don't mind cutting dirty wood embedded with grit; and if it hits a hidden screw or nail, just back up a bit and change direction. I've clamped pallets vertically from one corner with a Superjaws-type sawhorse and cut down with a chainsaw, but the time saved cutting is lost in repeatedly repositioning the pallet and looking where to cut to avoid nails.