Loire

Hello   Sorry to be so dull but, although I’ve used computers for years in GB, am completely foxed by getting set up on net in France. Am going to ask some very basic questions, I’m afraid. My French is not marvellous, particularly when it comes to technical jargon. I have spent hours looking at the sites of Tiscali, Orange etc, but frankly am none the wiser. Grateful for any help.   I have a laptop that I am taking from GB. It is wireless enabled. I don’t know at this stage how much time I shall spend in France, so am looking to compare benefits of pay-as-you-go net and other ISP inclusive services. Orange are doing an offer on Livebox net, TV and phone. As far as the phone aspect is concerned, does that price include the line rental I currently pay or just the (virtually) unlimited calls etc? Would I have to set up a system to make those calls, not just use my phone as normal? What exactly is a Livebox? Do I need to be in a Broadband area to use one? If so, would that Orange offer not be appropriate for me?, How can I find out if my small village has Broadband? If it doesn’t, what sort of internet service would I need? Which ISP provider could give that service?   Matters are further confused in that I know nothing about WiFi, and this is the first enabled laptop I have bought. Read the manual quickly yesterday and it tells me I must not connect to a digital phone line as it will damage laptop. That has scared me stiff. How do I find out if I have a digital line in France?   I am sure this is all much more simple than it seems. I’d be very grateful for an answer which assumes no prior knowledge and is very basic.  All I want really is to be able to surf the net.   Thanks in anticipation.   Regards   Loire

Hi Albert and Clair   Albert, thank you so much for that very helpful information.   Clair, good luck with the computer. If it’s any help at all to you (possibly not! And know John Lewis not possible for you) I have had a Samsung laptop for over four years which I bought from John Lewis as they had incredible technical knowledge and a can’t-be-beaten-on-price policy, cost around £600, very cheap for then, and haven’t had any probs with it at all. Yesterday I bought a Toshiba laptop to use in France from JL, cost £499, from a very knowledgeable and helpful chap who said it would be fine for what I intend to use it for, no need to have a higher spec.  Obviously don’t know how it will perform yet.   Good luck and thank you.   Regards   Loire

Hello Clair and Albert   Albert, you are clearly very knowledgeable about computers and unfortunately I am in a bit of a pickle about the laptop I have bought today, to use in my holiday home in France, primarily for word processing and surfing the net, with maybe a bit of DVD watching. I should be most grateful if you could help please.   I have bought a Toshiba today which is WiFi enabled. I know next to nothing about WiFi but believe that it can only be used in Broadband areas. I doubt very much if the small village where my house is would have it. The gumph with the laptop says that I cannot use the internal modem with a digital phone line. Sorry to be so dull, but does that mean that as long as my phone line is not digital, I can just get a net package and modem like the one I use on my non-WiFi laptop in GB, which I will plug into the computer and the phone socket, from someone like France Telecom? How will I know if my line is digital?To use the laptop with mains supply do I just plug the power cable plug on my computer into a French adaptor which is plugged into the wall socket, preferably also using a power surge protector? Is there anything else I need to know?   Again, sorry to be so dull, but don’t want to ruin laptop when I first use it! My French is not good and doesn’t run to such technicalities. When I sign up with an ISP, do they just send me the disc and any modem etc via post?   Thanks in anticipation   Regards   Loire

Dear Aidy Have sent you an email. regards. loire

Dear Coral  have sent a private message. regards loire

I am going to see a house in Saulges, around 33 kms east of Laval, dept 53, hopefully next week, and if it lives up to its photos on the net (we shall see!) shall buy, for, very long, holiday home. Although I have been to France many times, to many places, have not been there, though it looks and sounds fab. I cannot drive, so have to rely on public transport. Does anyone know if there is a bus service to Saulges to anywhere else, and if so, have any further details? Much as I am seeking the peace that Saulges seems to offer, I should like to visit other places sometimes and don't wish to be marooned there. Is Saulges as good as it sounds? I've been told by the agent that there is no flood risk from the river that runs through the village. Is that true? While the agent has been v helpful, there are quite a few questions that she has not answered. How many shops? What type? Would I be able to buy most of the food, and equally as important, wine, in the village? Any other info would be gratefully received, as I shoud like to get a feel for the atmosphere there eg very touristy or a friendly community spirit? I already know that there is a wonderful hotel with restaurant (L'Ermitage), a campsite and a swimming lake, and that there are caves nearby. Any info would be very gratefully received. Thanks Loire