(self-indulgent thread warning)
I can't believe I missed this, but on the 23rd of december, at 2.26am (for some godonlynows reason) I joined this forum in 2001. I remember why I visited, I had purchased a samsung 709 as my first DVD player (£279 - remember when basic was expensive?) and after getting it modified to play The Matrix and There's Something about mary, I imported X-men from Amazon.com, without having the ability to play it. I still own both the DVD and the DVD player (the Sammy is upstairs, still fully functional, even if the comically oversized remote died a few years ago)
All the hacks at the time pointed to using the remote from another player (an Alba, if I recall), and it was in the midst of ordering the remote that lo and behold, the multi-region codes appeared on this very site, necessitating an awkward conversation with the shop I ordered it from. The shop went bust that very year, i hope I wasn't a factor...
10 years. I'm 38. That means I've been a member of this forum for over a quarter of my life, and that fraction will only grow for as long as the site remains. It's probably also the reason I decided to chuck the site some dosh every now and again.
So, 10 years. In that time, i've got married,

spent a month in Oz, spent a few weeks on a cruise ship, had 2 kids
been through a month of hell. gained tattoos, lost weight (and gained it again - new years resolution and all that).
I've also gained enough knowledge that while, in 2001, I was on a £500 crappy PC world 500mhz PC running Windows ME with an 800mb hard drive, I'm now on my own self-built PC, and have the knowledge and experience to fix not only my own system, but anyone else that needs help at very reasonable prices...
The internet has changed too. While it used to seem to be a place of information and wonder, it's become a dark shell of what it used to be. Luckily, I've noticed the change as it happened and adapted to cope. Sadly, I see those new or niave to the internet still getting sucked in to outdated scaremongering and luckily, I'm in a posiition to set them straight, in a gentle, and non-patronising fashion, something else I've learned over the years,
Changed my sig a few times too...



This is the first site I visit, without fail, every single time I turn my PC on, and I don't see that changing any time soon.
*sniff* I love you guys
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Writer's Release
My Collection
This item was edited on Sunday, 25th December 2011, 01:24
Quote:
Pete-MK says...
*sniff* I love you guys
I can feel the love Pete
Your story is very similar to mine, i also bought my first Samsung 709 Dvd player at the exact same price from Currys about that time and needed the multiregion hack to play my first US imports......Jungle Book Special Edition and A Bugs Life on DVD and this site made it's way into my favourites ever since.
I am a member of many forums but this is my favourite forum i like to visit and i check it out every day without fail....even though sometimes it is mostly filled with meaningless drivel that i had a big part to play in
Great pics of your family and merry Crimbo to everyone here 
Nice one mate, multi region was reason i 1st popped my head in, back when you could watch a "big movie" from the other side of the world, weeks and sometimes months before they were released here and I was (and still am) such a huge movie nut that i lived on play usa, amazon, and another couple of sites which have now passed on due to the closeness of release dates now.
I am sure I have mentioned i dont tweet, plus my google, allow myself to be poked and as a forum for posting about different issues both serious and otherwise, this is it and I like it that way to the fact that the general forum is my home page
. I always pop in and have a nosey even tho I dont post as much as I used too.
Merry xmas and happy new year to you all
Quote:
badboybez says...
First I heard about chucking some dosh to the site - I must open my eyes a little widerClick on the 'support us' link in the sidebar.
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Writer's Release
My Collection
Quote:
skirpy says...
I am a member of many forums but this is my favourite forum i like to visit and i check it out every day without fail....even though sometimes it is mostly filled with meaningless drivel that i had a big part to play inIt's all about the people, each of you guys just brings something unique to the mix.
Though I think maybe we need more cabbies. ![]()
Editor
DVD REVIEWER
MYREVIEWER.COM
My Flickr Photostream
Quote:
Rob Shepherd says...
Though I think maybe we need more cabbies. There's never enough cabbies...
Except on quiet nights during the week when they're efffin' everywhere ![]()
RLIA ![]()
Jimbo : oÞ
"There's that word again... is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull in the future?"
I'll be 10 years a month tomorrow. Seem to recall it was for a Multi-Region hack for the £200 Schneider player from Asda...
Bloody hell, a lot's happened in that time...
Cheers
Si
My Collection (including the ones that belong to the kids!)
crikey... 10 years for me too on wednesday... in that time stayed married just, two little girls, moved house, lost my dad, and turned to work for the Darkside!
I reckon of the old stalwarts most will be celebrating a decade of being here... site still visited daily (on favourites bar), but more of a stalker than a poster these days... 
Its only been 8 years for me...I thinkmy at the time fella came for a region hack and I got sucked into the WEA ![]()
In that time, I've got engaged, split up, changed job many times, lost my dad, half sister and both Nan's, moved to the other end of the country, got married, had two kids, hubby left, got conned into taking him back, moved back down south, split up again (for the last time, I don't do third chances lol), broken several cars and had a massive falling out with my brother.
90% of the time you guys are the first people I come t to have a rant, let it all out, ask for advice, or share the good times
I'll never forget how touched I was by one of you emailing me with an offer of a shoulder to cry on when things were tough last year, and I love the fact that you guys seem to be able to fix it, or just make you feel better or share the good times no matter what is going on, so thanks to all of you ![]()
Lovely photos Pete and congratulations on your ten year anniversary ![]()
This item was edited on Sunday, 25th December 2011, 17:27