Did you ever see the television sketch where someone calls into a modern hi-tech retail establishment and wishes to buy a gramophone?
Assuming you mean this one, it's from 1980, so not so modern...
Did you ever see the television sketch where someone calls into a modern hi-tech retail establishment and wishes to buy a gramophone?
People in the olden days probably didn't see a "need" for a TV set.
Didn't someone a couple of years ago suggest having a TV had become a human right? How things change!
Unless you try one for 6 months, I don't think it's wise to say you don't need it.
I thought I didn't need cruise control on my car. Now I use it all the time on the motorway.
I mean, most people don't need much. I don't need a smartphone, but it enhances my life in so many good ways.
It's like saying you don't need to eat bread, ever again, as you can get nutrients from other things. But people do eat bread because they like it/want it. I hope that explains my point about need vs want. You may not need a smart phone but I bet it would make your life better - no matter how much you deny it :P
At Middlesbrough yesterday there was timetables 2, 3 & 5 available.
I never knew that Arriva Northern have took over the London Fenchurch Street - Shoeburyness route, as Tables 1-5 related to the former London, Tilbury, & Southend Railway metals in the Great Britain Passenger Railway Timetable book.
Is there no national standard these days? It would save timetable numbers being misappropriated everywhere.
How many people seriously think that though?
Given that the various Northern franchises for as long as I can remember have utilised some form of numerical timetable booklet system on neatly broken down routes, as have the likes of Southeastern, Anglia and many others, is it really such a heinous act? People in Morpeth need the conveniently-numbered 1 booklet for their trains to Newcastle, and have done for the past decade. Similarly, punters hundreds of miles away in mid-Wales know they need ATW booklet 1 for their trips to Pwllheli, and have done for the past decade. The chances that some unremarkable rail user in either of those situations is going to forego picking it up as they think it pertains to South Essex or anywhere else is naught.
It makes sense that each Toc labels their publications as they see fit. Perhaps when they get consolidated into a huge book that went out of fashion, I daresay relevance, years ago, then they need splitting up into odd dribs and drabs of tables and given sequential numbering. However, 99.9% of people are going to carry on in perfect understanding of their little corner of the network and just what number or letter they need, and not aghast at the appropriation of stealing an irrelevant number from something that is as good as dead.
Assuming you mean this one, it's from 1980, so not so modern...
You can usually download a "pdf" version of a timetable- just the once (do it on wifi at home or local coffee shop?) and then it's always available to read on your phone without using any data.
Yesterday, Hazel Grove station had most of the leaflets relevant to Manchester, but Victoria and Piccadilly had none.Northern timetables now being delivered
Don't you have to visit the bank to pay in cheques?I have a smartphone, a tablet, a Chromebook, a desktop PC, a work laptop and work desktop. I've worked in IT for 33 years and I had one of the first 'Microcomputers' as they were know (a TRS-80 FWIW).
And I still don't have any need for Internet banking. My bank account pretty much runs itself, money goes in from my employer and out via direct debit or debit card. On just two occasions in the last five years have I needed to visit a branch to perform a bank transfer. Those two occasions in no way justify the security risk of online banking.
If you're frequently transferring money between accounts etc., yes, internet banking is useful. If you don't have a money 'cushion' and are often in danger of going overdrawn, I guess it's useful (although I can get my balance at the ATM). If you use your bank account like I do, it's pretty much pointless and an unnecessary risk..
Don't you have to visit the bank to pay in cheques?
If you think that visiting a bank is an onerous task, then I am indeed sorry for you. Town centres as such were once places to visit to enjoy the retail experience but one of the prices that have to be paid for the acceptance of online shopping and internet banking is the reduction of the numbers of both banking and retail outlets, with the recently-announced Marks and Spencer store closure programme being a prime example of this.
It does of course depend on how easy it is for someone to get to a town centre and how much you enjoy the retail experience.
I for one very much like not having to go into shops as much as I once did and having access to products that wouldn't otherwise be available to me.
There is the social aspect of shop closures with the loss of jobs and the resultant difference in area ambiance that affect the very nature of town centres. This point seems lost on some people who see online purchasing as a way of achieving personal satisfaction.
There's an argument that in some areas there's too many town centres and a reduction in the number of these (or at least a focusing on different markets by each) wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
Yesterday, Hazel Grove station had most of the leaflets relevant to Manchester, but Victoria and Piccadilly had none.
If you think that visiting a bank is an onerous task, then I am indeed sorry for you. Town centres as such were once places to visit to enjoy the retail experience but one of the prices that have to be paid for the acceptance of online shopping and internet banking is the reduction of the numbers of both banking and retail outlets, with the recently-announced Marks and Spencer store closure programme being a prime example of this.
I wish I had read your post earlier, I went to Manchester Victoria for timetables today and they had one Trans Pennine timetable-Newcastle -airport.
And that one timetable was only delivered The Day Before You Came. Sorry, couldn't resist it, what with the original video portraying Rail Commuters.....
In your opinion of course :P
There's many things that are similar.
Banking is another sector where unless you're internet connected, it's getting more and more difficult to bank.
At one point, analog TVs were the same - and look where we are now.
Fact is, reliance on the internet and smart phones will only increase.
If you don't "get with it" you will miss out.
Do you ever wonder how much paper/money/time is wasted by over printing timetables?
Yes, some people may want a printed version but in many walks of life some groups of people's needs are sactificed by the advent of progress.
Railcards are another one that is slowly moving online.
I find paper timetables confusing.
If I pick up a London Midland timetable, I don't want to see Virgin Trains in it... otherwise I'd pick up a Virgin timetable.
1: My phone takes less than 1 second to "wake". It was part of the marketing for it.
2: There are many "battery saving" functions you can use on phones, but having it charged is now a part of life for many. Plus, the next generation of phones are all coming with quick charge. 0% - 50% in 20 mins or so.
3: If you can get 4G signal in Rugby, I suspect you can get it in Preston. I was reading something the other day that says even if you have full signal, the quality of the line might not be great.
4: Or you can just use an online journey planner to do the same.
5: I've dropped my phone a few times, still working, no cracked screen. There are far more phones that aren't dropped than those that are.
I understand where you're coming from though. However the fact is, paper anything is on the way out. Certain things are taking longer than others but be it timetables, railcards, tickets... this is what the digital revolution is all about.
Banking is another good one.
If you don't have a bank account, you can't get paid.
Yet I still know people who use cash for everything, but they're unable to justify why they create such hassle for themselves by doing so.
It's like the people who "don't do contactless" <-- nobody has given me a good reason why they don't use it but would rather struggle to insert their card, mess about typing in a pin, wait, then pull their card out. And for some people, the last task is often forgotten.
WIth contactless, your card never leaves your hand, so in that sense it's better/more secure.
It does not need to leave your hand, nor your wallet for someone to take £30 from it ! and those £30's can add up ! People say use your smart phone, nut millions don't have a smart phone, or even want one, a bog standard mobile phone is all they want or need.
Put a contactless card near another card like an oyster, and then more problems !
Whenever someone complains that something has not worked when travelling by train 99% of the time it's 'on line' related. the UK's online system is not up to it yet, not sure why its the UK that seems to 'lead the way' in shutting down anything not 'connected', Europe and the U.S seem to be a bit more savvy and do not put all their eggs in one basket !
There is the social aspect of shop closures with the loss of jobs and the resultant difference in area ambiance that affect the very nature of town centres. This point seems lost on some people who see online purchasing as a way of achieving personal satisfaction.