You just can't escape computers these days, whatever you do & whenever you do 
it there will be a computer somewhere!  I now own several, some being assigned
to a specific task but mainly so I always have a working machine to hand 
somewhere in the house!

I suppose the best example of a machine that is specifically aimed at 1 task
is the Acer in the lounge which acts as a media centre in that it stores my
collection of DVD's flac and mp3 audio  as well as providing access to internet based items.
The computer output is fed via HDMI into my Yamaha AV amplifier and on to my LG
TV again via HDMI.  With the update of my TV to an LG Smart TV the use of this
unit has reduced considerably, the LG having internet access built in including
all the streaming services that the Acer originally offered such as YouTube.
DVD playback should have moved too but the LG Magic remote audio guidance
facilities still fall well short of being helpful (in contact with LG about this).

It's worth pointing out here that apart from the LG Smart TV other devices are 
taking some work from the computers.  Android phones and tablets offer a very
useful platform for listening to audio books for example or offering a easy
way to display photos.

As I now rely on a computer for so many things I do have several machines setup 
in a variety of ways but with many farely standard drives, ports & connections 
common to them all.

A cable rooter links several of these machines, each machine being
in a different room, each setup for a specific task but each backing up
another part of the system.

My first machines were created from off the shelf parts but pricing changes
make it now more practical to purchase branded product.

I'm currently running the following machines:-

1 x Acer XC-605 Core i5 8Gb 1Tb SSD Windows 10 64 bit;
    The original 2tb HDD was replace with a 1TB SSD in Febvruary 2021 with the 
    2TB now housed in an external USB caddy.

1 x Acer XC-705 Core i5 8Gb 1Tb SSD Windows 10 64 bit;
    The original 3tb HDD was replace with a 1TB SSD in Febvruary 2021 with the 
    3TB now housed in an external USB caddy.

1 x acer aspire e5-772 core i3 8gb 1tb SSD 17.3 laptop;
    The original 1tb HDD was replace with a 1TB SSD in December 2019 with the 
    1TB HDD now housed in an external USB caddy.

1 x Geekom IT11 mini pc;
This small foot machine arrived in February 2023 and sports Windows
11, Intel I7 with 32GB ram and 1TB ssd,blutooth 5.2  plus a selection of USB etc.

1 X GEEKOM IT15 Mini PC, Intel Core Ultra 9 285H, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD, Windows 11 Pro;
Arriving in mid March 2026 this update  will bring me up to date again and
will probably see the end to my Acer window 10 desktop.

There are a few peripheral devices:-

1 x Canon ix6850 a3 printer
1 x Canon lide 700f scanner
1 x LG external DVD writer 
1 x unbranded 3.5 floppy drive
1 x ethernet spliter hub
1 x Nobsound ng01 bluetooth amplifier with Wharfdale speakers

Technology is always moving on so I do keep my eye on developments.
With the purchase of the Geekom IT11 in February 2023 I took a big step
forward in speed and power and have now got Windows 11 available to me.

As I mentioned above some of my Android devices are now carrying out tasks that
the PC would have originally done.  For example I quite often use my phone to
read documents rather than using Windows based OCR, still nice to have both
available.

As for toys in general I suppose a 3d printer would be fun to play with but at 
the moment I can't think of a use for it other than for parts for my model 
railway.

Application software is the usual variety of stuff, any specialist applications 
will be described in other parts of this site where they fit into the text more 
sensibly.

The below table shows some of the software I am currently running, it will 
hopefully grow when I get a few spare minutes.

My current joint telephone and broadband provider is 

who give me a speed of around 60 meg, the service has the usual frills and does 
just what I need.

Currently waiting to upgrade the Talktalk service to full fibre which will give me
a speed of approx 500mbs and a fully digital phone service VoIp (July 2024),
installation is booked for 12 August 2024, I've signed up for a £50 a
month for 24 month contract.
watch this space.

The domain 'martinmurdoch.me.uk' and its associated email address is hosted by

it's the lowest cost basic package they offer but it does what I need so
far, later it would be handy to have access to SSI etc. but for the time being
it does the job.

I also use Byethost for additional web space, there was a problem signing up
due to a visual verification code but a direct email to them got me up &
running very quickly.