Thank you, Andy, but it happens on both the laptop and the pc.  Mind you I get the impression they are in cahoots.  When one is slow, so is the other.  They both receive signals from the same wireless router.

I have to set-up a pc for someone who needs secure remote access (via TCP/IP) to a network in London - the London network checks the IP address, as well as a password routine.  The pc in question is accessing the internet in Moscow via a 3G connection over a USB modem.

Does anyone here run, or has experience of Windows Vista?  I know it had some terrible reviews when it was launched.  Have these been ironed out now and is it preferable to Windows XP?

I agree with Ron. XP's been around for 6.5 years and it seem to work pretty well by now so I see no reason to change to Vista.

Of course, MS have to "persuade" people to buy new software that they don't really need in order to generate income. They're doing this with Vista by giving 30/6 as a deadline after which manufacturers can no longer offer XP preinstalled on new computers. However Dell are selling Vista PCs with the option to "downgrade" to XP:

"Anyone who buys a copy of either the Business or Ultimate versions of Vista is entitled to also get Windows XP Professional. Each computer manufacturer decides whether, or how, to implement this. Until now, consumers who exercised their right to get XP Professional when they purchased Vista got a computer with Vista preinstalled and an XP image CD in the box (an image CD is very different from a retail Windows CD). Dell's innovation? It will do the XP image installation for you. It may not sound like much, but the net result is that the computer leaves the factory with Windows XP Professional on it, rather than Vista. Microsoft can't be happy about this, though a cynic would note that even though Dell computers leave the factory with XP on them, Microsoft can tally it as a sale for Vista."

However domestic consumers will presumably have no such choice, so if you're buying a new PC Anty you'll end up with Vista.

I'm lucky enough to have Vista on my shiny new laptop (which probably has something to do with the fact that it doesn't get used nearly as much as the old XP box with the letters almost worn off the keyboard).
My main grumble with Vista is that I haven't tracked down all the superfluous bloatware that comes with it yet.
The automatic backup only backs up to internal hard disk storage, or the internet and since I don't have a fast connection, the internet is not an option.
The user account control dialog (sic) pops up frequently; at first it was annoying but now I more or less expect it. Rather than risk weakening security (ahem!) I leave it active.
Oh, and when I first started it up, it recommended that I back up the operating system before first use, which meant fifteen of my precious CD-ROMs got gobbled up.

I think Bill Gates said something about "Wow!" moments. 

Microsoft have just had another go at releasing XP Service Pack 3, having pulled it last week due to an incompatibility issue. I got an automatic update notification this morning but I think I'm going to wait a bit until I install it, in case they find something else wrong with it. It's only really bringing together all the previous updates so if you've been keeping XP up to date, there should be no rush.

Thanks, tim, for your concern, and thank you to David U for the idea.

I have stared at the memory sticks and felt them all over, and their surfaces are smooth as a baby's bottom.  I can see no slide.

Sorry I didn't thank David above but I didn't want to appear to be continually complaining when I had not been able to get it to work.

Incidentally, trj, how do you hide the link to the page under text (in this case the word David's tip)?